Kuldeep Yadav starred with the ball for India on Day 1 of the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati. The wrist-spinner returned with three wickets, all of which exhibited his mastery over craft.

Kuldeep’s brilliance was also acknowledged by Proteas batter Tristan Stubbs, who detailed how drift led to his dismissal

Stubbs had already smashed Kuldeep for a couple of sixes and needed just one run to complete his half-century when the latter tossed one up, letting it drift through the air before turning off the track.

Stubbs moved his hands towards the delivery without any foot movement, resulting in a simple catch for KL Rahul at first slip.

“I have faced him quite a few times. This was the first ball of his new spell and I think the best one he has bowled," Stubbs said while speaking to the media at the end of the day’s play.

“From my angle, it sort of beat me in the drift, that’s sort of why my hands got away, so I think that’s how he got me out," he added.

When asked if he wanted to steer it past the slips for a single, Stubbs explained his dismissal and gave Kuldeep full credit for setting him up.

“It was just the drift and my hands sort of following it, so it’s probably on a day one wicket, that’s probably how he’s trying to get you out, but for him to bowl that first ball of his, coming back, I thought it was quite impressive," Stubbs said.

The South African batter also opened up on his Delhi Capitals banter with Kuldeep Yadav during the innings.

“We’ve always chirped each other that he hasn’t often bowled to me and then today he walked past and he said, ‘You can’t say I don’t bowl to you anymore," Stubbs said.

South Africa ended the opening day on 247/6 after opting to bat. The tourists are leading the two-match series 1-0 after winning the first Test in Kolkata by 30 runs.