India’s star spinner Kuldeep Yadav was at his best during the team’s Asia Cup 2025 campaign opener at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. The left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav returned figures of 4 for 7 in 2.1 overs to rattle the United Arab Emirates batting order. Kuldeep Yadav’s impressive performance also included a three-wicket over.
Kuldeep Yadav claimed his fourth wicket on the 13th ball of his spell to register a new record in the continental tournament. While Kuldeep Yadav recorded the second-best bowling figures in the history of T20 Asia Cup, he became the fastest ever to take four wickets at the event. Kuldeep Yadav broke the record of Pakistan spinner Shadab Khan, who had taken 4 wickets in 17 balls against Hong Kong in the 2022 Asia Cup.
Kuldeep Yadav was introduced into the attack in the 7th over of the UAE innings. He started with a four-run over. His best was witnessed in his very next over in which he claimed three wickets while conceding only three runs. Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Rahul Chopra, UAE captain Muhammad Waseem, and Harshit Kaushik. Coming in to bowl his third over a bit late, Kuldeep Yadav struck on his first ball to dismiss Haider Ali, registering a four-wicket haul and also bundling out UAE for 57 runs in 13.1 overs.
His bowling performance played an instrumental role in India’s easy nine-wicket victory. The visitors cruised to the paltry target of 58 runs in just 4.3 overs. Kuldeep Yadav was named the Player of the Match for his performance.
Kuldeep Yadav’s historic 4-fer seals easy win for India over UAE
It turned out to be a damp squib as the Indian team returned to the field after a long wait of 35 days, as the whole game was done in 17.4 overs, with the Men in Blue chasing down the target of 58 in just 4.3 overs. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) to their credit, began on a good note, scoring 25 runs in the first three overs with Alishan Sharafu going after the Indian bowlers; however, one wicket and it all came downhill for the hosts.
Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy started the procession, before Kuldeep Yadav was introduced and ran away with the game, taking 4/7, including three wickets in one over. The UAE collapsed from 47/2 to 57 all-out, losing eight wickets for last 10 runs, with Kuldeep taking four and all-rounder Shivam Dube also accounting for three batters.
Kuldeep Yadav’s four-wicket haul helped him get to the milestone of 50 wickets away from home, becoming the sixth Indian bowler to do so in T20Is and leapfrogged R Ashwin on the list during his match-winning spell. Kuldeep Yadav has 52 wickets outside India in T20Is, with Arshdeep Singh leading the list at 71. The next five in the list are as follows :
Most wickets for India in T20Is (outside India)
63 – Hardik Pandya (59 innings)
62 – Jasprit Bumrah (42 innings)
56 – Bhuvneshwar Kumar (53 innings)
52 – Kuldeep Yadav (25 innings)
50 – R Ashwin (44 innings)
Kuldeep Yadav was playing a T20I for India for the first time since last year’s T20 World Cup final and now, with that performance, he might have created a selection headache for his captain, also because Shivam Dube delivered with the ball. Arshdeep Singh sat out as India went with just three frontline bowlers, and Bumrah was the only fast bowler.
The massive win took India’s net run rate through the roof into double digits as India presented their contention for the title in their first game itself. Amazed with his bowling spell, Former Indian player Mohammed Kaif has lauded Kuldeep Yadav for his amazing return on the cricket field.
Kuldeep Yadav’s heroics 4-7 with the ball gets special praise from Mohammed Kaif
India kicked off their title defence campaign in the Asia Cup 2025 on a high note as they bulldozed past hosts UAE to register a thumping nine-wicket win. UAE made an impressive start but then their batting completely crumbled as Kuldeep Yadav weaved his magic with amazing spin bowling.
The left-arm spinner ended up with 4 for 7 figures and even took just three wickets in one single over. Shivam Dube got rid of the tail and registered three wickets, while Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel took a wicket each. While chasing, India took just 4.3 overs to reach their target of 58 runs, as Abhishek Sharma scored 30 off 16 balls and Shubman Gill remained not out on 20 off nine balls.
The dominating win over UAE will be a huge boost for team India’s confidence ahead of Sunday’s big-ticket clash against arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai.
Former India international Mohammed Kaif lauded Yadav for his exceptional bowling performance, while claiming the spinner is a genuine wicket-taker and will be India’s key match-winner in the Asia Cup 2025.
Mohammed Kaif shared a video of himself on his Instagram profile, where he said:
“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.
Mohammad Kaif believes that Kuldeep Yadav will play a massive role in India’s title defence at Asia Cup 2025 Title defence. He added that the UP- born player can deliver versus any other team irrespective of the condition . Kaif added:
“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).”
Kuldeep Yadav was rewarded Player of the Match for his match winning performance and Kuldeep Yadav 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 Yadav nights, nights when every batsman feels he is ready to pounce.
Also Read: Asia Cup 2025: Kuldeep Yadav & Co Bamboozle UAE