Dubai [UAE], February 24: After leading India to a six-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium, Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav spoke about his remarkable bowling performance.
Kuldeep was instrumental in turning the game in India’s favor with a brilliant spell of 3/40 in his nine-over stint. His performance not only helped India secure the win but also saw him achieve a historic milestone. With this spell, the left-arm ‘Chinaman’ spinner became the fifth Indian bowler to reach 300+ international wickets, joining the ranks of Anil Kumble (953 wickets), Ravichandran Ashwin (765 wickets), Harbhajan Singh (707 wickets), and Ravindra Jadeja (604 wickets).
“I wasn’t following any particular plan, to be honest. In my first spell, I mainly stuck to bowling Chinaman deliveries. I have a variation in the wrong one as well, and I also mix it with top-spin deliveries. The first wicket I took, Salman, was a regular Chinaman. For the second wicket, I used the wrong one on Shaheen. I had targeted that specific wicket and thought the wrong one was a better option there,” Kuldeep explained to the media after the match.
The 30-year-old spinner further elaborated on the strategy he used to outfox the Pakistani batters, and how his captain, Rohit Sharma, supported him.
“The plan was straightforward. On a slow pitch like this, spinners become the go-to option for the last 10 overs. Rohit also felt it would be tough for the batters to score against spinners with varied deliveries. I mixed up my pace, using wrong ones and top-spins. When you take a couple of wickets in the middle overs, the batsmen tend to become defensive, and that’s when you can control the game. Rohit told me directly, ‘I want a wicket. If you can get me a couple of wickets, that would be great’,” Kuldeep said, crediting his captain for providing clear directions.
Kuldeep’s performance not only helped India seal a crucial win over Pakistan but also placed him among the elite bowlers in Indian cricket history, reaffirming his importance in the team’s spin department.