- By Namrata Vijay
- Thu, 11 Sep 2025 12:27 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
IND vs UAE Asia Cup 2025: Kuldeep Yadav didn't hesitate to react to his recent team India snubs after performing brilliantly during India's first match of the ongoing tournament against UAE on Wednesday. Kuldeep, who didn't feature in a single match in the five-match Test series against England, made a brilliant comeback as he registered figures of 4/7 in the 2.1 overs that he bowled and proved his worth, and helped the team skittle the UAE out for just 57 runs.
Yadav hasn't played competitive cricket for almost two months, but his bowling brilliance in his comeback match remained intact. During the post-match presentation, he gave credit to their strength and conditioning coach, Adrian Le Roux, for helping him prepare for this tournament, which made his comeback match even more special.
"Thanks to Adrian (le Roux), the trainer... It was tough for me (not playing). I was working on my bowling and my fitness as well, and everything was going perfectly (tonight). The length matters a lot, reading the batter. Especially in this format, the length is the main thing, and reading the batters and what they are trying to do. Reacting to what the batter was trying to do (off the next ball)," Kuldeep had told broadcasters during the post-match presentation.
Suryakumar Yadav left everyone stunned by choosing to bowl first after winning the toss, and this decision worked in their favour. Jasprit Bumrah, who was playing in this format after almost a year, took his first wicket during the powerplay as he dismissed Alishan Sharafu, who was one of the few UAE batters who had put up a valiant fight. Varun Chakravarthy then took the wicket of Muhammad and had left the host tottering at 41/2 in six overs.
Then Kuldeep Yadav came into the attack during the power play, and that had turned the tide. He took three wickets during the first over and then took his fourth and skittled the hosts out for just 58 runs. While chasing, Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill didn't waste much time, as captain Suryakumar Yadav also joined. They chased the target in 4.3 overs, which was their fastest ever chase in the shortest format, and created a new record.
Kuldeep has always been a match-winner in this format. He had taken 69 wickets after playing in 40 T20Is at a staggering average of 14.07, which also includes two five-fors. He had played a huge role in helping India lift the 2024 T20 World Cup title, where he had taken 10 wickets after playing in five matches.
Also Read: IND vs UAE Asia Cup 2025: India Chase Target In 4.3 Overs, Register Record-Breaking Win Against UAE
But he was still ignored in the five-match T20I series against England. After his match-winning performance against the host in the Asia Cup, he has sent a stern warning to the selectors that he can perform well in big tournaments.
