Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif praised Kuldeep Yadav for his outstanding bowling performance against the UAE in the 2025 Asia Cup. Kaif highlighted that Kuldeep made full use of the opportunity, having patiently waited on the sidelines and performing drinks duties during the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England.
Kaif opined that the left-arm wrist-spinner could have easily taken a five-wicket haul had he completed his full quota of four overs. Kuldeep returned with exceptional figures of 4/7 in just 2.1 overs, including three wickets in his second over, which helped bundle the UAE out for 57 in 13.1 overs.
The 30-year-old was named Player of the Match as India cruised to a nine-wicket victory in only 27 balls. Significantly, this match also marked Kuldeep’s first T20I appearance since the 2024 T20 World Cup. On Thursday (September 11), Kaif stated on Instagram:
“Kuldeep Yadav did not play any match on the England tour. He sat out throughout the series and served water. He only practiced, and after 108 days, he got the opportunity to play in the Asia Cup against the UAE. With four wickets, he became Player of the Match.”
“Kuldeep Yadav gave just seven runs and bagged four wickets. He took three wickets in his second over, in just one over. The match ended there. Bowled just 13 balls and bagged four wickets, and there were 11 deliveries to spare. If he had bowled those 11 balls, he would have finished with five or six wickets,” he added.
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“He’ll Be The Game-Changer” – Kaif’s Big Prediction On Kuldeep Yadav For Asia Cup
Mohammad Kaif expressed confidence that Kuldeep Yadav will be a key figure in India’s bid to defend their Asia Cup 2025 title. He further noted that the Uttar Pradesh-born spinner has the ability to perform consistently against any opposition, irrespective of the playing conditions. The 44-year-old remarked in the same video:
“Don’t say that the UAE is a weaker team. I can understand. You can bring Pakistan, New Zealand, play an IPL match, you bowl him anywhere in the middle overs, he’s a genuine wicket-taker. That’s why the Indian team has got a bowler who has form and became Man of the Match. Asia Cup mein yeh ban jayega turup ka ikka (He will become X-factor in Asia Cup).”
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