He started as a fast bowler when he first started playing professional cricket. But, his coach Kapil Pandey clipped his fast bowling wings and instead asked him to bowl left-arm wrist-spin.

From that moment, there's been no looking back for India's Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav.

In the crucial decider at Dharamsala, the Indian team management came up with a gamble that stunned the Australians.

While everyone expected Shreyas Iyer to replace an injured Virat Kohli, the team management made a surprise move by including Kuldeep in the playing XI.

An hour before play began, Kuldeep was presented his Test cap by legendary India leg-spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan and the Chinaman ripped apart the Australia's top-order to claim four wickets.

From idolising Wasim Akram to Skyping with Brad Hogg, Kuldeep Yadav burst onto the Test scene with a bang.

As a young Chinaman bowler, Kuldeep was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders at the 2014 IPL auction and former KKR coach Vijay Dahiya said his interactions with fellow wrist-spinner Brad Hogg helped Kuldeep reach to this level.

"When you have an experienced campaigner like Hogg around, you learn a lot. One of the major areas of concern for Kuldeep was that he was a bit slow off the wicket. If the batsmen can read you off the pitch, that reduces the threat. You can’t give the batsmen time to read you off the wicket at the international level. And I feel that is the area where he has worked on," Dahia told a news website.

"He would keep talking to Hogg about the nuances of Chinaman bowling and what we see today is the result of a lot of hard work behind the scenes. Being young also helps because then you are much more open to ideas and look at learning from the senior pros," Dahia added.

Kuldeep's conversations with Hogg were just not on the field but off it also.

"He (Brad Hogg) has asked me to Skype him if there is any problem I want to discuss with him. That's a big deal for a youngster when someone you look up to takes a keen interest in you," Kuldeep had told a cricket website during the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy season.

While the two towering spin twins - R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were less effective on a good batting wicket, the wrist spinner claimed the prized scalps of David Warner, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell and Pat Cummins to put India back on track.

India were staring at a world of pain when Steve Smith and David Warner forged a threatening 134-run stand for the second wicket. Australia entered the Lunch break for the loss of just one wicket with the Australian skipper and his deputy well-set at the crease.

But, the fourth over after Lunch saw Kuldeep struggle to contain his emotions after taking his maiden Test wicket.

Warner trying to put the pressure on Kuldeep went for a cut but was undone by the flight and bounce as he edged to skipper Ajinkya Rahane at first slip.

Handscomb was the next in the firing line as Kuldeep cleaned him up sparking wild celebrations.

It was a classic wrist spinner's dismissal as Kuldeep tossed the ball up and lured Handscomb into a drive and the ball sneaked between bat and pad to hit the timber.


"I am very happy. A dream come true for me. In a Test match. Can't ask for more than this. Initially I was nervous when I was standing at fine leg in the first over. Then it felt normal for me. I have improved my fitness levels, which helped me with my bowling. The wicket was good to bat on, the ball was not turning match. A little bit help for the spinners. I bowled just wicket to wicket. And variations. Obviously I worked a lot on my variations. The wrong'un, flipper and the normal chinaman. For Handscomb I set up the plan. I showed him the wrong'un first, and then bowled him with the chinaman," Kuldeep said after the match.

If that was a dream dismissal, Kuldeep's delivery to dismiss Maxwell left a lasting impression on legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar.

Maxwell tried to unsettle the youngster as he whacked a wrong-on over wide lone-on. But the Chinaman fired in a googly that completely squared Maxwell up and clipped the off bail.

Pat Cummins counter attacked Jadeja and Ashwin but Kuldeep had his man with a simple caught and bowled.

Dahiya feels that Kuldeep’s rise will be phenomenal and that the Chinaman will be in the scheme of things.

"When you have someone like Anil Kumble as chief coach, you can only learn so much more. I think with Kuldeep having worked on his bowling and the fact that he has made his presence felt means that he will be a part of the squad for a while now. To have two senior spinners in R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja around you and a legendary leg-spinner like Anil Kumble as coach, this is just the start of Kuldeep’s rise. Not to forget an exuberant skipper in Kohli who loves backing young talent," Dahiya said.

A five-wicket haul on debut was on the cards but nevertheless, India's gamble on playing an extra bowler worked as Kuldeep delivered just when it mattered the most.

But, India's Chinaman would know the job is only half done.