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Kuldeep Yadav was left heartbroken as the dropped catch separated him from a hat-trick. Abishek Porel drops a regulation catch behind the stumps. If he had taken the catch, it would have been a hat-trick for Kuldeep Yadav.
That 14th over has changed the whole equation of the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals (KKR vs DC) IPL 2026 match. In two consecutive deliveries, the spinner of DC clinched the wickets of Ajinkya Rahane and Rinku Singh.
Kuldeep Yadav takes back-to-back wickets vs KKR in Kolkata
Rahane was the set batter on the pitch. He had to go for a well-made 63-run knock from 39 balls. The KKR skipper departed on the second delivery of the over. In the following delivery, it was Rinku Singh who went off guard against Kuldeep Yadav. Rinku returned with a golden duck.
The fourth delivery brought a chance to take a hat-trick for the experienced spinner. Tejasvi Singh Dahiya, too, tricked by the spin wizard, produced an edge. It was an easy catch for the keeper Abishek Porel, but he missed it, and Kuldeep was left heartbroken.
Watch the moment here:
The hat-trick was right there! 🤏🥺
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 24, 2026
So close yet so far for Kuldeep Yadav 🫣
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Kuldeep Yadav's stats vs KKR, and vs Ajinkya Rahane in T20s
If we take a look at the Kuldeep vs KKR stats, published by Cricbuzz, then the impact is visible on paper. Kuldeep is among the spinners who have a healthy track record against the three-time IPL-winning side. So far, in 7 matches, the spinner has taken 13 wickets, including three 3-fers. Against the Kolkata Knight Riders, Yadav’s economy rate is 8.12, and 11.00 strike rate.
Kuldeep vs KKR
Mats: 7
Wickets: 13
Avg: 15.0
SR: 11.0
ER: 8.12
3-fers: 3
The left-arm wrist spinner’s stats against Ajinkya Rahane are also pretty good. They have faced each other in 6 innings in T20s. Against Kuldeep, Rahane faced 35 balls and was dismissed 3 times. In those 35 balls, the current captain of KKR has been able to score only 31 runs, for which his strike rate against the spinner is well below a hundred, 88.57.
Kuldeep vs Rahane in T20s
6 innings
35 balls
31 runs
3 dismissals
SR: 88.57
Delhi Capitals defeated KKR by a 40-run margin
Ahead of the 14th over, KKR was on 126 runs for 3 wickets. From there, they lost all of their remaining batters, only for 163 runs, and DC won the match by 40 runs. Seven batters of KKR departed with single-digit scores each.
Kuldeep concluded his 4-over spell with 3 wickets and an economy rate of 7.25. Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi also claimed 3 wickets within his spell for an economy rate of 7.36.
Read More: Finn Allen punches bat in anger after being dismissed by Lungi Ngidi in KKR vs DC clash
