Kuldeep Yadav ruled out of IND vs PAK match after Man of the Match show vs UAE

Kuldeep Yadav has made India come back with a bang in their Asia Cup 2025 opener against the UAE on September 10 after half a year away from international cricket.

Those who doubted him, overlooked him, or questioned his place in the India National Cricket Team were left stunned, as Kuldeep Yadav wreaked havoc on the UAE’s weak batting lineup with ruthless precision in Dubai.

The wrist-spinner, who was sidelined during India’s memorable five-match Test series in England, has proved why he’s India’s top spinner grandly. Kuldeep ripped through the UAE batting order, picking up four wickets for just seven runs in just 13 balls.

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Kuldeep Yadav stuns UAE, but Sanjay Manjrekar hints he might be benched again

Three of those dismissals came in a single over, leaving the UAE team and fans shocked in Dubai. Shivam Dube also chipped in with three wickets, but it was Kuldeep’s magic that set the tone, making India’s nine-wicket win so effortless in their Asia Cup 2025 opener on Sunday.

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After India cruised to a commanding victory over the UAE, former Indian cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar took a sly dig at the head coach, Gautam Gambhir.

Hailing Kuldeep’s sensational spell, Manjrekar slammed Gambhir while hinting at a harsh reality for the wrist spinner. He playfully said that Kuldeep could still be left out in the next game despite his match-winning performance.

May not play the next game now: Sanjay Manjrekar slams Gautam Gambhir over favoritism

It was not just a jab at Gambhir but Manjrekar’s direct attack on the Indian head coach’s unpredictable and baffling team selection. The commentator has pointed out that Kuldeep’s brilliance might not guarantee him a spot, as favoritism is getting deeper in the national team.

Sanjay Manjrekar posted, X: “Kuldeep has 3 in one over. May not play the next game now. 😉”

Kuldeep has 3 in one over. May not play the next game now. 😉

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) September 10, 2025

Kuldeep Yadav’s heartbreak was exposed before the mic went dead

Even during the post-match presentation, Sanjay Manjrekar asked Kuldeep how he stays at peak performance despite not getting regular chances in the playing XI. He highlighted inconsistency in selections and the challenges of staying motivated during periods of exclusion.

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Just as Kuldeep began to respond, the microphone malfunctioned, cutting off his words mid-sentence. Only the Indian spinner’s brief and heartfelt admission was heard: “It was tough for me.” These words reflected the frustration, determination, and hunger that fueled Kuldeep’s comeback.

Kuldeep Yadav's T20I numbers

Notably, Kuldeep Yadav has been one of India’s top T20 performers in recent years. With 69 wickets in 40 T20I matches at an impressive average of 14.07 and two five-wicket hauls, the wrist spinner has proven to be a match-winner. He played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 win, taking 10 wickets in 5 games with an economy under 7.

Despite such remarkable performances, the Indian spinner was surprisingly left out of the T20I series against England earlier this year, and even on the recent Test tour, he didn’t get a single game in Shubman Gill’s captaincy debut series.

His exclusion has left fans and experts questioning why such a game-changer wasn’t being backed when it mattered most in Gautam Gambhir’s era.