Kuldeep, who was born in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, began his career as a fast bowler in the academy. But, after some time, Kuldeep and his mentor, Kapil Pandey, realised that his abilities were incompatible with the job. Because of his build, the coach instructed him to take a path followed by just a few: to become a slow left-arm unorthodox or chinaman bowler.
Kuldeep made his name at the 2015 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, where he scored a hat-trick. After that, Kuldeep never looked back, and he has managed to dazzle on the international stage in all forms of cricket.
Records
He is just the second Indian to take five-wicket hauls in all three formats, after Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He is the first left-arm wrist spin bowler to play Test cricket for India. His figures of 10-0-25-6 against England cricket team are the highest by any left-arm spinner in one-day internationals.
Career
Domestic Cricket
He was influenced by Zaheer Khan and Wasim Akram in his early years and aspired to be a fast bowler. On his coach’s suggestion, he switched to wrist-spin bowling. Kuldeep was not selected for the Uttar Pradesh under-15 side, but he did make the state team in 2014.
International Cricket
On March 25, 2017, Kuldeep made his Test debut against Australia Cricket, becoming the first left-arm wrist spin bowler to represent India in Test cricket. Three months later, he made his One-Day International debut against the West Indies. In July 2017, he made his debut against the same side.
He became the third Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in an ODI on September 21, 2017. He became the first left-arm wrist-spin bowler to take wickets in a T20I inning and just the third bowler in T20I history to take a five-wicket haul. In the same month, he took his first five-wicket haul in an ODI and set the record for the best bowling figures by any left-arm spinner in an ODI.
In October 2018, he took his first five-wicket haul in a Test match against the West Indies, being just the second Indian, after Bhuvneshwar Kumar, to take five-wicket hauls in all three formats. He was selected to India’s squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup in April of this year.
Family
Ram Singh Yadav, Kuldeep’s dad, owns a brick kiln. Kuldeep’s father was the one who wanted him to keep playing cricket. Usha Yadav, his mum, is a stay-at-home mom. Priya Yadav is his older sibling.