T20 Asia Cup: Top spinner Kuldeep Yadav delivered a game-changing spell in India’s seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the 2025 Men's T20 Asia Cup, finishing with figures of 3-18. Speaking after the match, the left-arm wrist-spinner said the secret to his dominance was nothing extraordinary — just sticking to the basics.
“Nothing much, to be honest. I just try to keep things simple and execute the plans I have. I focus on who’s batting at the crease, what their strengths are, and how they like to play. Then I react accordingly. I had my plans today and just stuck to them,” Kuldeep said at the post-match presentation.
The spinner explained that his aggressive mindset from the very first ball often gives him the edge.
“The first ball is always a wicket-taking ball in my mind. You need to have that mindset — that you can get a wicket straight away. Whether the batter is new to the crease or already set, it’s usually the first time they’re facing me in the game, and that gives me a good chance to get on top.”
Despite his strong performance, Kuldeep admitted he is still working on refining his craft. “I still feel there’s a lot of improvement needed in my bowling. Sometimes I try too many variations, and I’m learning to manage that better. It’s a process — learning day by day, game by game.”
“The first ball is always a wicket-taking ball in my mind. You need to have that mindset — that you can get a wicket straight away. Whether the batter is new to the crease or already set, it’s usually the first time they’re facing me in the game, and that gives me a good chance to get on top.”
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Earlier, India’s spin-heavy strategy proved decisive for the second game running. Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav led the charge with figures of 3-18, while Axar Patel chipped in with 2-18. Varun Chakaravarthy had figures of 1-24, as the trio operated with remarkable control on a sluggish Dubai pitch to restrict Pakistan to 127/9.