Kuldeep Yadav

In an era where wristspin has faded, Kuldeep Yadav stands out as India’s rare left-arm unorthodox spinner, using flight, turn and overspin to trouble batters. Unlike flamboyant leg-spin greats like Shane Warne, Kuldeep is more understated, relying on discipline and patience across formats.

Breaking into Tests was tough, with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja dominating India’s spin department. Between 2017 and 2024, he featured in only 13 of 70 Tests. Yet, whenever given opportunities, he left a mark; most memorably in Dharamsala 2024, where he took seven wickets in an innings against England on the same ground where he had debuted seven years earlier.

Kuldeep’s rise had early signs. Originally a fast bowler, he switched to spin and shone at the 2014 Under-19 World Cup, finishing joint second-highest wicket-taker with a hat-trick to his name. He broke into the Indian side in 2017, making an instant impact. His 6/25 vs England at Nottingham remains one of the best ODI spells by a left-arm spinner. He also became the first Indian spinner to claim two ODI hat-tricks, against Australia (2017) and West Indies (2019).

Between 2019–21, inconsistency hit him hard as his ODI average climbed above 40 and he lost his IPL place at KKR. But a comeback arrived after knee surgery in 2021. With improved pace and bounce, he revived his form at Delhi Capitals, taking wickets under 20 per piece in IPL 2022.

The numbers tell the story of his resurgence. In 2023, Kuldeep was the leading wicket-taker in ODIs with 49 at 20.4, including 15 scalps in India’s World Cup run. He played key roles in India’s triumphs at the 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy. His variations, coupled with control, made him India’s frontline white-ball spinner once again.