India has put their best foot forward in their first two matches of the 2025 Asia Cup. Firstly, dispatching the UAE with ease, and then going on to make light work of eternal rivals Pakistan. While others have contributed to both the wins, there is only one lead orchestrator who has been destroying batting orders left, right and centre, Kuldeep Yadav.
After a very ordinary IPL campaign, Kuldeep has reminded everyone why he is so special. The Kuldeep Yadav we have seen in the Asia Cup hasn't flighted the ball as much as he used to before. His spells against UAE and Pakistan saw him keeping his lines tight and bowling a wicket-oriented length.
This approach gave him massive results. In India's opener against the UAE, he dismantled their batting singlehandedly, picking up 4 wickets for just 7 runs. And then against Pakistan, he picked up 3 for 18, once again being the point of difference, and in the end, clinching back-to-back Man of the Match awards.
Gautam Gambhir, in the post-match conference, lauded the bowlers for “doing the right things”, while Wasim Akram, on the Sony Sports broadcast, admitted that the Pakistani batters seemed clueless against Kuldeep and co. The bowling legend said that the only way to understand and play him is to read the ball from his hand, which in itself is extremely difficult.
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After the UAE game, Kuldeep Yadav gave credit to India's new strength and conditioning coach, Adrian Le Roux, for preparing him for the Asia Cup, which is now reaping benefits for the bowler and Team India.
Over the last couple of years, the Indian wrist spinner has had to do without his OG partner in crime, Yuzvendra Chahal. But it seems that finally, he has adapted to the responsibility on his shoulders yet again.
Abhishek Nayar, a former member of the Indian Coaching Staff, shed light on how Kuldeep Yadav practised bowling on sand, where the ball stops. This has helped him bowl with more bite. And this is now showing in his bowling.
Apart from this, the former coach also added that Kuldeep has changed his run-up, making it straighter than before and cutting down on the jump he had before release, resulting in higher momentum transfer.
What matters the most is that Kuldeep's resurgence has made him an undroppable member of the Playing XI, and India will continue to benefit from his artistry.
