Kuldeep Yadav breaks silence on Team India snubs after Asia Cup heroics

Kuldeep Yadav was quick to respond to his recent omission from the Indian squad by delivering a stellar performance in India’s opening match of the ongoing tournament against the UAE on Wednesday. Having not featured in any of the five Test matches against England, Kuldeep made a spectacular comeback by recording figures of 4 wickets for just 7 runs in only 2.1 overs, playing a crucial role in restricting the UAE to a paltry total of 57 runs.

Despite not having played competitive cricket for nearly two months, Yadav’s exceptional bowling was on full display during his return. In the post-match presentation, he credited the team’s strength and conditioning coach, Adrian Le Roux, for preparing him for this tournament, making his return all the more meaningful.

“Thanks to Adrian (Le Roux), the trainer. It was tough for me being out of action. I was focusing on improving my bowling and fitness, and everything clicked tonight. In this format, the right length is very important, along with reading the batter’s moves and reacting accordingly,” Kuldeep explained during the post-match interview.

Kuldeep Yadav has been a consistent performer in the shortest format. Before this match, he had already taken 69 wickets in 40 T20 Internationals at an impressive average of 14.07, including two five-wicket hauls. He was a key contributor to India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, where he claimed 10 wickets in five matches at an economy rate of under 7.