Asia Cup 2025: Kuldeep Yadav's match-winning four-for takes him past India legend's tally

Published - 11 Sept 2025, 12:00 IST | Updated - 11 Sept 2025, 12:09 IST

Star left-arm unorthodox bowler Kuldeep Yadav recently overtook Ravichandran Ashwin's T20I wickets tally during Match No. 2 of Asia Cup 2025 between India and United Arab Emirates at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The left-arm wrist-spinner registered mind-blowing figures of 4/7 in just 2.1 overs and secured the Player of the Match award for his match-winning spell on September 11.

Kuldeep's second over resulted in fall of three UAE wickets, placing the opposition reeling at 50/5 at the end of nine overs. He ended up ending UAE's misery by taking their final wicket on the first ball of the 14th over of their innings. Kuldeep's fourth took his overcall count to 73, surpassing Ashwin's aggregate while playing 24 matches fewer.

This was Kuldeep's second four-wicket haul for India in T20Is. He had taken his previous one way back against Ireland in June 2018. With such a positive start to the tournament, a lot will be expected from Kuldeep in terms of leading the spin-bowling department while having Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel as support.

Kuldeep credited the lead strength & conditioning coach of the team and his own work during practice sessions as the reason behind his performance. The 30-year-old emphasized on being one step ahead of the batters as the key aspect behind his successful outing with the ball against the UAE on Wednesday. The Aligarh-born further stressed on the importance of hitting the right line and lengths to draw results in his and ultimately the team's favour.

"(On his fitness) Thanks to Adrian [le Roux] the trainer. I was working on my bowling and my fitness as well, everything is going perfectly. Tried to hit the right length and it matters a lot, reading the batters on what they are trying to do. Even today as well, reacting to what the batters would do on the next ball," stated Kuldeep during the post-match presentation ceremony, as he collected his Player of the Match award.

The Suryakumar Yadav-led side ended up chasing the target in only 4.3 overs in what was a thoroughly emphatic win for his team. The Men in Blue are currently placed at the top of the table with a superior net run-rate (NRR) of 10.48. They will take on Pakistan next at the same venue on Sunday, September 14, before travelling to Abu Dhabi to face Oman on Friday, September 19.