Kuldeep Yadav

Born in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Kuldeep started out as a fast bowler at the academy level. But after a considerable period of time, Kuldeep and his coach Kapil Pandey realized that his talents did not align with the task. Seeing his build, the coach advised him to a route taken by a select few- to become slow left-arm unorthodox or chinaman bowling style.

Kuldeep played in the 2015 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, where a hat-trick brought him in the limelight. Kuldeep never looked back after that and has continued to impress on the international stage in all the forms of the cricket.

Kuldeep Yadav - Over the Years

Records

He is only the second Indian other than Bhuvneshwar Kumar to take five-wicket hauls in all three formats. He is the first left-arm wrist spin bowler to represent India in Test cricket. His spell of 10-0-25-6 against England cricket team is the best figures by any left-arm spinner in ODIs.

Career

Domestic Cricket

In his early years, he was inspired by Zaheer Khan and Wasim Akram and wanted to become a fast bowler. However, on the advice of his coach, he became a wrist-spin bowler. Kuldeep was unable to make the in the Uttar Pradesh’s under-15 team but eventually made into the state team in 2014.

IPL Career

Kuldeep was a part of the Mumbai Indians in the 2012 IPL season. In 2014, he was picked up by the Kolkata Knight Riders. In 2018, he was bought back by the KKR for a sum of INR 5.8 crores.

International Cricket

Kuldeep made his Test debut on 25 March 2017 against Australia Cricket team and became the first left-arm wrist spin bowler to represent India in Test cricket. His ODI debut came three months later against West Indies. His debut came against the same team in July 2017.

Also see - Mohammed Shami Biography

On September 21, 2017, he became the third Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in an ODI. In July 2018, he became the first left-arm wrist-spin bowler to take wickets in a T20I inning and only the third bowler to take a five-wicket haul in a T20I. The same month, he took his maiden five-wicket haul in an ODI and also made the record of best bowling figures by a left-arm spinner of any kind in an ODI.

In October, 2018, in his maiden test test against West Indies, he took his first five-wicket haul in Test and became only the second Indian other than Bhuvneshwar Kumar to take 5-wicket hauls in all three formats. In April, 2019, he was named in India’s squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

Family

Kuldeep’s father, Ram Singh Yadav is brick kiln owner. It was Kuldeep’s father who wanted Kuldeep to continue playing cricket. His mother, Usha Yadav is a homemaker. He has an elder sister, Priya Yadav.