Kuldeep Yadav's Asia Cup Masterclass Silences Doubters, Proves Spinner Still India's Ace

For a man who has spent most of the past six months on the sidelines, Kuldeep Yadav has a way of making people sit up when he finally gets the ball in his hand. Wednesday night’s Asia Cup opener against the UAE in Dubai was one of those evenings. The left-arm wrist-spinner turned the match into a personal showcase, delivering a spell that was less about the hapless opposition and more about a world-class cricketer who never sulks and always finds a way to deliver. Having warmed the bench for all five Tests in England, Kuldeep finally got his chance and looked fitter and sharper than ever.

Playing his first match for India after half a year, Kuldeep sent a rousing message to his detractors: he is India’s No. 1 spinner, and leave him out at your own peril. In the news recently for his treatment in the Test series against England—where he did not play a single game—Kuldeep ripped through the UAE batting order to set the stage for India’s nine-wicket win without breaking a sweat. He and Shivam Dube shared seven wickets between them, but it was the wrist-spinner’s figures of 4 for 7 that really knocked the stuffing out of the hosts. Three of those four wickets came in one over. India would have steamrolled the UAE anyway, but Kuldeep made it quicker and easier.

It was, in many ways, a pity that Kuldeep’s special night in India colours had to come against the hapless UAE. But it wasn’t about the quality of opposition—it was about his long wait, and the rejection he felt during the entire Test series in England that made this night special.

His last international match had come in March this year, a 50-over game against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final. His last wicket in the T20I format dates back to June 27, 2024, against England at home. On Wednesday, in one over of tease and torment, he grabbed three—striking on the first, fourth, and sixth ball—to wrap up the game. He found UAE at 47 for 2, left them teetering at 50 for 5, and came back later to finish them off at 57 all out.

Introduced after the Powerplay, Kuldeep bowled a flighted delivery first up. Rahul Chopra went for a big hit but failed to get the distance. Shubman Gill moved to his right to complete the catch. On the fourth ball of the same over, Muhammad Waseem was trapped LBW, and on the last delivery, Harshit Kaushik was bowled. Returning in the 14th over, he removed Haider Ali to close the innings. He finished with exceptional figures of 4/7 in just 2.1 overs, at an economy rate of 3.23.

Kuldeep’s return turned into a blockbuster for the sparse Dubai crowd that braved the draining heat and humidity. For India, it gift-wrapped the most facile of nine-wicket victories.

All this—the waiting, the adjustment of both mind and method—has liberated Kuldeep and elevated his bowling to a level where batsmen now dread him. He showed why he needs to play every game in this format, not only because he is the trickiest but also because he is the meanest and most evolved. He has found the true essence of his craft, giving perfection to India’s already intimidating bowling cartel.

The performance drew glowing praise from ex-India opener Robin Uthappa after India's comprehensive win. “What was good to see was how well he played yesterday. It’s been such a long time, and he seems to be getting better. I was looking at his numbers—his economy rate and wickets—and I feel they actually underestimate his value. Don’t go by the size of the man. He is a proper aggressive bowler, and he means business all the time. He’s always hunting for wickets with that aggressive mindset. He’s constantly improving and evolving his game, and every opportunity he gets, he’s all over the opposition like a rash,” Uthappa said on Sony Sports.

Uthappa explained that Kuldeep’s aggressive edge has roots in his interaction with Shane Warne. “I remember him talking about the time he interacted with Shane Warne. The conversations he had with Warne were all about mindset—the aggressive nature of a spin bowler. I think ever since that chat with Shane, it flipped a switch in his brain. He has been aggressive ever since, always looking for wickets, and you’ve seen him bowl with so much control over the last three or four years. You want someone like him to get opportunities in every format.”

Kuldeep doesn't complain, doesn't throw tantrums, but whenever he gets the ball, he delivers. Against the UAE, it may have looked routine, yet every wicket, every subtle drift, was a quiet statement. India's spinner has waited, observed, and refined, letting the ball do the talking. Nights like these-when he crafts a spectacle out of spin, cunning, and control-are no longer rare. They are Kuldeep nights, nights when every batsman feels he is ready to pounce.