Left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav was at his best in the recently-concluded T20 Asia Cup 2025. Kuldeep claimed 17 wickets, most by any bowler in the tournament by a huge margin. Also, he claimed four wickets in the final against Pakistan. After a scintillating performance in the T20 Asia Cup 2025, Kuldeep's childhood coach Kapil Dev revealed how his blood boils when he sees Pakistan. Dev took a dig at Pakistan saying that they sent a team of amateurs.
"Pakistan ko dekhte hi uska khoon khaulta hai. Pakistan ne bachche aur nausikhiyon ki team bheji thi iss baar (His blood boils the moment he sees Pakistan. Pakistan sent a team of kids and inexperienced players this time)," Dev told Times of India.
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Dev said that Kuldeep was hungry and angry as he was benched for the entire Test tour of England. He kept the wrist spinner’s anger in check and told him not to lose to Pakistan.
"I told Kuldeep, ‘Your coach is a soldier. Discipline is in my blood. Play with discipline. You must not lose to Pakistan.’ Kuldeep always remembers this. After the England tour, he was sitting there hungry. I was the one who had kept his anger in control” he added.
Kuldeep’s performances in Asia Cup
Kuldeep started the tournament in style, picking up four wickets for seven runs against UAE. In the group stage clash against Pakistan, he claimed three wickets for 18 runs, causing a collapse. He took one wicket each against Oman and Pakistan in the Super Fours clash. When India took on Bangladesh, he troubled batters again, taking three wickets for 18 runs. He wasn't as effective in the dead rubber game against Sri Lanka, picking one wicket for 31 runs.
Kuldeep in final vs Pakistan
In the final, he was expensive in the first two overs. Then, he got the wickets of Saim Ayub, captain Salman Agha, Shaheen Afridi and Faheem Ashraf, helping India bowl out Pakistan for 146 in 19.1 overs.
Will Kuldeep play 1st Test vs West Indies?
Now, Kuldeep’s next challenge will be the two-Test series against West Indies. The selectors are face a dilemma whether to include three or four spinners in the lineup. India's options are Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Kuldeep. It will be unfortunate if Kuldeep misses out as he is not an all-rounder.