Kuldeep Yadav has been one of the standout performers for India in the Asia Cup 2025, making the most of his opportunities after a tough phase earlier this year. The leg-spinner, who missed out on playing all five Tests during the England tour, admitted it was a difficult experience but said head coach Gautam Gambhir was clear in his communication about the team’s need for extra batting depth.
The 30-year-old has bounced back in style, already picking up seven wickets in just two games. He grabbed 4/7 against the UAE and followed it up with 3/18 against Pakistan, winning the Player of the Match award in both encounters. His form has given India a big boost as they eye another Asia Cup title.
“Sometimes, in 3-4 matches, I felt that I could play, but unfortunately, I couldn’t play because they wanted batting depth. The communication was very clear. I feel that that is a very important thing. Gauti was very straightforward. Sometimes, I felt that I could play, but as you know, because of the batting depth, I couldn’t. But it was nothing about skill or batting. I couldn’t make a place because of the conditions or the combination,” Kuldeep said on the eve of India vs Oman clash as quoted by Cricbuzz.
Kuldeep contends that while placing blame on others is easy, self-analysis and hard work are the keys to true success. He was quick to stress out that his main duty is still to bowl and take wickets for the team, even if the left-arm unconventional spinner has frequently been kept out of the lineup because the Indian team like to have more batting depth and frequently calls for the inclusion of an all-rounder.
“You should always work on batting. But it is just that bowling is my strength. If I play in any team, I will play as a bowler. My job is to take wickets. If I don’t take wickets, there will be no space.”
Kuldeep Yadav
“So it is very important to understand that you play as a proper bowler. Your job is to take wickets for the team. But practice sessions are done to improve any skill. I will continue to work on it. I have learnt that you should work hard in life, rest everything will happen like they are supposed to happen.”
Kuldeep Yadav
Duleep Trophy match practice helps Kuldeep Yadav find bowling rhythm
The Aligarh spinner who had not played a single game in India since they won the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup, discussed bitterly the challenges of going on a vacation without playing a game of cricket. By disclosing that he maximized his time off, he was able to sharpen his skills and enhance his fitness to a greater degree so as to be better prepared to take up opportunities at a later stage.
“It was a very good time for me to work on myself, to improve my fitness and to give more volume to bowling because it is very important. I learned a lot. As a player, you learn a lot when you don’t play. When the team reacts to situations, you can judge from the outside. You have a lot of ideas about what you would do, how you’d react if you were in this situation. I got a lot of ideas from there. After that, I played the Duleep Trophy match. I was wicketless. I bowled 35 overs. My rhythm was set there and it was very important for me to bowl there.”
Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav, who plays for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League, is the Men in Blue’s leading wicket-taker in the current continental league. His role will be enhanced now that India has qualified for the Super Four, as wrist spinners have generally found the wickets in Dubai to be very helpful, especially when combined with his ability to turn the ball both ways.
