On Wednesday, as Kuldeep Yadav ran through UAE’s hapless batters with guile and accuracy, his childhood coach swelled with pride. After warming the bench on the long tour of England, Kuldeep Yadav took four wickets for seven runs in 2.1 overs as UAE were dismissed for 57.
The result was never in doubt. The way India notched it though caught everyone by surprise. Finding a place for Sanju Samson was understood to be tough but not for Gautam Gambhir. Kuldeep Yadav was finally accommodated, as was Shivam Dube, meaning even though Arshdeep Singh missed out, Hardik Pandya—sporting a bold bleached hairdo—doubled up as new-ball bowler along with Jasprit Bumrah. Axar Patel was picked as well, lending India batting depth till No 8 while not compromising on bowling edge.
They anyway didn’t need to bat long. UAE, making their first Asia Cup appearance in 10 years, were rolled over for just 57 in 13.1 overs, leaving Kuldeep Yadav on a hat-trick till whenever he plays again.
It was that sort of a comprehensive performance where barring Pandya, every bowler got at least a wicket. UAE tried to hold their own with openers Alishan Sharafu and Muhammad Waseem before they were just outsmarted and outclassed by a superior game. While it was truly a mismatch of unfair proportions, it did provide a peek into an exciting future for India.
Pandya opening the bowling isn’t a new ploy, but Dube getting three wickets in 10 balls definitely raises expectations. UAE batters aren’t exactly the international yardstick but if bowling straight was the brief, Dube sure nailed it.
A back of the length ball to get an edge off Asif Khan, a length ball that just went with the hand to smash into Dhruv Parashar’s pad, and finally a fuller one that Junaid Siddique was forced to spear showed Dube can be slower in the air but more difficult to be hit. Which, on two-paced subcontinent pitches, is worth its weight in gold. Only twice till date has Dube bowled his full quota of overs, something he might never be required to as well but this will give him some confidence.
Promising, however, was the way Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav bowled in tandem. A left-arm wrist spinner is as much a mystery bowler as Chakravarthy is with his repertoire. Which is why this was like a four-over trailer to what could happen in Sunday’s clash against Pakistan.
The gulf in quality notwithstanding, it isn’t easy to read Kuldeep Yadav and Chakravarthy in tandem, what with the infinite permutations they can create with spin or the lack of it, bounce and varyingly discomforting speeds and trajectories. Adding Patel to this mix makes India’s spin bowling all the more riveting. And it’s a theme India could repeat vs all important match vs Pakistan on 14th September 2025.
Three spinners in the attack gave him the licence to go with Varun Chakravarthy in the Powerplay. And he straightaway got a wicket, making Muhammad Zohaib swing blindly across the line and get a top edge. The best thing with Kuldeep is that he hardly takes time to announce himself. His first over was a loosener of sorts, checking the run flow with different lengths at separate trajectories. The UAE batters looked all at sea.
Next over he started with a flighted ball, teasing Rahul Chopra to go for a massive hoick but he couldn’t clear Shubman Gill at long-on. Three balls later, Waseem thought it would be a good idea to sweep Kuldeep Yadav.
The idea was understandable, given the ball was given some air, but keeping the front leg out of the stumps is difficult to execute even for seasoned batters. Brilliant, though, was the googly that outclassed Harshit Kaushik. Bowled slightly wider to make Kaushik lunge forward for a drive, the ball snuck in to get a feather edge and on to his stumps.
The last wicket was as undramatic as it could be, Haider Ali adjudged caught-behind when it looked there might have been a deflection off the pads. But UAE had no choice but to accept it because they were out of reviews.
With 4/7, yet again Kuldeep waltzed back into the side as if he was never gone. This is a different format though, and different circumstances as well.
As much as Gambhir would love to pack his side with batting options, he knows bowlers are key to maintaining dominance in this format. Going with Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy thus seems like a no-brainer vs Pakistan and Former cricketer now commentator Aakash Chopra has emitted similar emotions ahead of Pakistan clash on 14th September 2025.
Pakistan has not played well against leg spin- Aakash Chopra expects Kuldeep Yadav & Varun Chakravarthy to dismantle Pakistan
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has opined that the eight overs shared by spin duo Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy could prove decisive in the Men in Blue’s Asia Cup 2025 clash against Pakistan. The match is scheduled for Sunday, September 14, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Kuldeep Yadav was was named Player of the Match in India’s opening game against the UAE, which the team by nine wicketswhile chasing 58. The left-arm chinaman returnerd with an impressive figures of 4/7 in 2.1 overs , while Varun Chakaravarthy finished with 1/4 in two overs.
On the eve of match ,Saturday, September 13, Aakash Chopra highlighted the areas where India could dominate the game. He said via ESPNCricinfo :
“From a bowling perspective, I see that India’s two spinners, Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav can control the match and also take wickets. Traditionally, Pakistan has not played well against leg-spin. Whether it is left-arm leg-spin or right-arm leg-spin, they struggle. Those eight overs could perhaps decide or define this match.”
“Both of them will be in focus, and in those eight overs of spin, Mohammad Harris scored runs in the last match, with a half-century to his name. They also have a big name in Fakhar Zaman. So if you can get them out in the middle, then I think the match could quickly swing in India’s favor,” he added.
India boasts an impressive T20I record vs Pakistan, triumphing in 10 out of 13 encounters. Mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy made his T20I debut for India in 2021 and featured in 19 matches. The 34-year-old has claimed 34 wickets at an average of 14.26 with a strike rate of 12.4 , maintaining an economyrate of 6.87, and his best figures are 5/17.
On the other hand, Kuldeep Yadav has played 41T20Is , taking 73 wickets at an average of 13.39 and a strike rate of 11.9. The 30-year-old has an economy rate of 6.72 , with the best figures also being 5/17. Seeing this it is evident that both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy would be India’s potent weapon vs arch rivals against Pakistan on 14th September 2025.