Kuldeep Yadav scripts history, surpasses Lasith Malinga's all-time Asia Cup record with 4-fer against Pakistan

India spinner Kuldeep Yadav created history in the final of Asia Cup against Pakistan as he clinched four wickets while giving away just 30 runs in his four-over spell. With this fantastic spell, he became the bowler to take the most scalps in the history of Asia Cup (ODI and T20Is combined). He now has a total of 36 wickets under his belt in the continental tournament and has surpassed Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga, who took 33 wickets in 15 matches.

Most wickets in Asia Cup (ODI and T20Is combined) -

1. Kuldeep Yadav - 36 wickets

2. Lasith Malinga - 33 wickets

3. Muttiah Muralitharan - 30 wickets

4. Ravindra Jadeja - 29 wickets   

5. Shakib Al Hasan - 28 wickets

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Kuldeep didn't have a great start to the match against Pakistan and gave away 23 runs in his foirst two overs and wasn't able to take any wicket either. However, he made an incredible comeback and dismissed Saim Ayub in his third over before clinching the wickets of Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi and Faheem Ashraf in the final over of his spell.

Bowlers help India make a comeback

His bowling spell massively helped India in bundling out their arch-rivals for just 146 runs. The Men in Blue made a brilliant comeback and took nine wickets in the space of just 33 runs as their arch-rivals suffered a batting collapse. The likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel also contributed well by picking up two wickets each which saw the opposition get bowled out for what is quite a gettable score on the Dubai pitch. Though Pakistan had made a great start to the match with an 84-run opening stand, their batting order went on to completely capitulate as the innings progressed.

Kuldeep's stunning form in Asia Cup

Meanwhile, Kuldeep's T20I comeback is nothing short of fabulous. Coming into the Asia Cup, Kuldeep hadn't played a match in the format since the T20 World Cup final last year. However, he ended up being the trump card for the Men in Blue in the bowling department and finished the tournament with a total of 17 wickets in 7 matches. With the 4-fer against Pakistan, the left-arm spinner has also become the Indian bowler to pick up the most scalps in an Asia Cup edition, overtaking Irfan Pathan who had taken 14 wickets in 2004.