Cricketers of the week - 19th March to 25th March

Kuldeep Yadav had a dream debut

A top-class innings from the best batsman in the world on current form, a dazzling debut from a chinaman bowler, an all-round performance from a legend for an Associate nation and a supremely talented batsman coming of age in probably his nation’s greatest away series – these are our top performers of the week.

Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan miss out despite their superlative performances and so does Ambati Rayudu who played a fine knock in a losing cause in the Deodhar Trophy. Here are the last five men standing.

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#1 Kuldeep Yadav

The young man showed no nerves on debut in the final Test against Australia at Dharamsala and bamboozled the Australians, bringing India back into contention after a bad morning session.

Australia were cruising at 144 for 1 with David Warner showing signs of returning back to form and Steve Smith doing what Steve Smith does best. However, Yadav got Warner thanks to a cut shot that was not on and some good catching from Rahane, who is always switched on in the slips.

Kuldeep followed it up with a beautifully flighted delivery that drifted away, created a gap between bat and pad, and castled the stumps of Peter Handscomb. Glenn Maxwell couldn’t pick the wrong one and Pat Cummins gave a simple return catch.

Yadav registered figures of 4/68 in 23 overs bringing India right back into the game as Australia were eventually all-out for 300 on day 1.