Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav

Role: Bowler

Batting Style: Left Handed Bat

Bowling Style: Left-arm wrist-spin

Country: India

Team: Delhi Capitals

Player profile for Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav, born on December 14, 1994, in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, is an Indian cricketer renowned for his exceptional skills as a left-arm wrist-spin bowler, commonly known as a chinaman bowler. He represents Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket and plays for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Early Life and Background

Kuldeep hails from a family with humble beginnings; his father, Ram Singh Yadav, owns a brick kiln. Growing up in Kanpur, Kuldeep initially aspired to be a fast bowler, inspired by legends like Wasim Akram and Zaheer Khan. However, his coach, Kapil Pandey, recognized his potential in spin bowling and encouraged him to switch to the rare art of chinaman bowling. Despite initial challenges, Kuldeep embraced this style, drawing inspiration from Shane Warne’s techniques.

Domestic and IPL Career

Kuldeep made his debut for Uttar Pradesh in the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy season, quickly gaining attention for his deceptive spin and variations. His performances led to his selection in the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad for the IPL, where he played from 2014 to 2021. In 2022, he joined the Delhi Capitals, continuing to showcase his talent in the league.

International Career

  • Test Debut: Kuldeep debuted in Test cricket against Australia in March 2017, taking four wickets in his first innings. citeturn0search2
  • ODI and T20I Debuts: He made his One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) debuts later in 2017, quickly establishing himself as a key spinner in limited-overs formats.
  • Notable Achievements:
    • In the 2014 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, Kuldeep became India’s leading wicket-taker and was the first Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in the tournament.
    • On December 18, 2019, he became the first Indian bowler to record two hat-tricks in international cricket during a match against the West Indies.
    • In January 2020, Kuldeep became the fastest Indian spin bowler to reach 100 wickets in ODIs, achieving this milestone in his 58th innings.

Personal Life

Kuldeep’s journey to cricketing success wasn’t without challenges. There was a period when he considered quitting cricket due to setbacks, but his passion and determination kept him going. He draws inspiration from footballers Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr., and supports the football club FC Barcelona.