- Nationality
India- Cricket
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Current Team
- DC
A master of deception and one of the rare left-arm wrist spinners in world cricket, Kuldeep Yadav (born December 14, 1994) has become India’s premier wicket-taking option in the middle overs.1 Known for his lethal googlies and vastly improved fitness, Kuldeep’s career reached legendary status in 2025 as he played a pivotal role in India’s “Golden Era” of white-ball dominance.
As of January 20, 2026, Kuldeep enters the IPL 2026 season as a core pillar of the Delhi Capitals (DC).2 Retained for ₹13.25 Crore, he is fresh from a historic 2025 where he helped India secure both the ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup.3
Kuldeep Yadav: Player Profile & 2025–26 Career Peak
The Champions Trophy 2025 Hero
Kuldeep Yadav was the X-factor in India’s 2025 ICC Champions Trophy victory in Dubai.4 His ability to break partnerships was most evident in the final against New Zealand on March 9, 2025, where he finished with figures of 2/40, bamboozling the middle order.5 Earlier in the tournament, he “spun a web” around Pakistan with a match-winning 3/40, cementing his status as a big-match player.
Asia Cup & International Dominance
The year 2025 also saw Kuldeep dominate the Asia Cup, where India defeated Pakistan three times, including a crushing win in the final.7 His “magic delivery” to Babar Azam once again became a viral sensation, reminiscent of his 2019 World Cup masterpiece. By the end of 2025, Kuldeep had claimed over 50 international wickets in the calendar year across formats.
IPL 2026: The Capitals’ Spin King
After a career-defining 21-wicket season in 2022, Kuldeep has remained the heart of the Delhi Capitals’ bowling attack.8 For the 2026 season, he has been retained for ₹13.25 Crore. Partnering with Axar Patel, Kuldeep forms one-half of the most feared spin duo in the league. His ability to maintain an economy rate of 7.08 while attacking the stumps makes him a tactical nightmare for opposition batters.
Kuldeep Yadav: Career Statistics
Data consolidated as of January 20, 2026.
IPL Bowling Performance
| Year | Team | Matches | Balls | Runs | WKTS | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR |
| 2025 | DC | 14 | 306 | 361 | 15 | 3/22 | 24.07 | 7.08 | 20.40 |
| 2024 | DC | 11 | 258 | 374 | 16 | 4/55 | 23.38 | 8.70 | 16.13 |
| 2022 | DC | 14 | 298 | 419 | 21 | 4/14 | 19.95 | 8.44 | 14.19 |
| Career | Total | 98 | 2052 | 2751 | 102 | 4/14 | 26.97 | 8.04 | 20.12 |
Recent International Highlights (Jan 2026 vs NZ)
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2nd ODI (Rajkot): 1/52 (10 overs)
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1st ODI (Vadodara): 1/82 (10 overs)
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Asia Cup 2025 Total: 12 wickets in 6 matches.
