Key facts
- Known for: Left-arm wrist spin (the "chinaman"), and the first Indian to take two international hat-tricks
- Born: 14 Dec 1994, Uttar Pradesh; raised in Kanpur
- Age: 31 years (as of 13 Nov 2026)
- IPL team: Lucknow Super Giants for IPL 2027, traded from Delhi Capitals for Rishabh Pant at ₹13.50 crore
- Titles: T20 World Cup 2024 and 2026; Champions Trophy 2025; Asia Cup 2018, 2023 and 2025
Early life
Kuldeep Yadav was born on 14 Dec 1994 in Uttar Pradesh and grew up in Kanpur, where his father pushed him to take cricket seriously. He wanted to bowl left-arm pace like Wasim Akram, but his coach saw how much he turned the ball and made him a wrist-spinner. Shane Warne became his model.
He played for Uttar Pradesh and, as a teenager, was in the Mumbai Indians squad in 2012 before Kolkata Knight Riders signed him in 2014.
Career milestones
- 2014
Plays the U19 World Cup; joins Kolkata Knight Riders
- 2017
Test debut at Dharamsala; ODI and T20I debuts; first ODI hat-trick
- 2018
Five-fors in ODIs and T20Is in England; joint top wicket-taker as India win the Asia Cup
- 2019
Second ODI hat-trick, v West Indies
- 2022
Joins Delhi Capitals
- 2023
Player of the Tournament as India win the Asia Cup
- 2024
T20 World Cup winner
- 2025
Champions Trophy winner; Asia Cup MVP
- 2026
Second T20 World Cup; marries Vanshika; traded to Lucknow Super Giants
International career
Kuldeep made his Test debut against Australia at Dharamsala on 25 Mar 2017 and took four wickets in the first innings. He was the first left-arm wrist-spinner to play Test cricket for India. His ODI and T20I debuts followed in the West Indies that summer.
On 21 Sep 2017 at Eden Gardens he took an ODI hat-trick against Australia, the third by an Indian after Chetan Sharma and Kapil Dev. On 18 Dec 2019 at Visakhapatnam he removed Shai Hope, Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph in one over against West Indies, becoming the first Indian with two international hat-tricks.
In England in July 2018 he took 5/24 in a T20I at Manchester and 6/25 in an ODI at Trent Bridge, at the time the best ODI figures by a left-arm spinner.
Asia Cups and ICC titles
After a quieter spell following the 2019 World Cup, he returned to form in 2023. At that year's Asia Cup he took 5/25 against Pakistan and was named Player of the Tournament as India won the title.
He was part of the squads that won the T20 World Cup in 2024 and 2026. In the 2025 Champions Trophy final in Dubai he took 2/40, dismissing Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson, as India beat New Zealand by four wickets.
At the 2025 Asia Cup he was the leading wicket-taker with 17 and was named Most Valuable Player. Abhishek Sharma was Player of the Tournament.
| Date | Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Mar 2017 | Test debut | Four wickets v Australia, Dharamsala |
| 21 Sep 2017 | First ODI hat-trick | v Australia, Eden Gardens |
| 12 Jul 2018 | Best ODI figures | 6/25 v England, Trent Bridge |
| 18 Dec 2019 | Second ODI hat-trick | v West Indies, Visakhapatnam |
| 9 Mar 2025 | Champions Trophy winner | 2/40 in the final v New Zealand |
| Sep 2025 | Asia Cup MVP | 17 wickets, most of the tournament |
IPL career
Kuldeep played for Kolkata Knight Riders before moving to Delhi Capitals in 2022. ESPNcricinfo counts 72 wickets in 65 games for Delhi at an economy of 8.24, though IPL 2026 was a lean season, with 10 wickets at 10.29 an over.
On 23 Jun 2026 Delhi and Lucknow Super Giants completed a trade: Rishabh Pant returned to Delhi and Kuldeep moved to Lucknow at his existing ₹13.50 crore fee. Lucknow will be his third IPL team.
County cricket
In July 2026 Yorkshire signed him for five One-Day Cup matches, starting against Glamorgan on 24 Jul, and three County Championship rounds in September.
Personal life
Kuldeep announced his engagement to his childhood friend Vanshika on 4 Jun 2025. They married in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, on 14 Mar 2026. Reports give her surname as both Singh and Chadha.
Latest: New Zealand ODIs, Nov 2026
Kuldeep came into India's XI for the fourth ODI against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui on 13 Nov 2026, leading the spin attack under stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer alongside Axar Patel.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Kuldeep Yadav?
Kuldeep Yadav was born on 14 Dec 1994, so he is 31 years old as of November 2026.
How many hat-tricks has Kuldeep Yadav taken for India?
Two, both in ODIs: against Australia at Eden Gardens on 21 Sep 2017 and against West Indies at Visakhapatnam on 18 Dec 2019. He was the first Indian with two international hat-tricks.
Which IPL team will Kuldeep Yadav play for in 2027?
Lucknow Super Giants. Delhi Capitals traded him to Lucknow for Rishabh Pant on 23 Jun 2026, and his fee stays at ₹13.50 crore.
Who is Kuldeep Yadav's wife?
He married his childhood friend Vanshika in Mussoorie on 14 Mar 2026. They had announced their engagement in June 2025.
What is a chinaman bowler?
A left-arm wrist-spinner whose stock ball turns into a right-handed batter, as Kuldeep bowls. The term is now often replaced by "left-arm wrist spin".
Sources
- BCCI: Kuldeep Yadav player profile
- ESPNcricinfo: The chinaman bowler who almost became a pacer
- Sportstar: Kuldeep Yadav, the first Indian with two ODI hat-tricks, 18 Dec 2019
- ESPNcricinfo: Champions Trophy 2025 final scorecard, India v New Zealand
- Sportstar: Asia Cup 2025 award winners, 29 Sep 2025
- ESPNcricinfo: IPL 2027 pre-season trades, 11 Nov 2026
- IPLT20.com: Rishabh Pant and Kuldeep Yadav complete trade between DC and LSG
- Yorkshire County Cricket Club: Kuldeep Yadav joins Yorkshire, Jul 2026
- India Today: Kuldeep Yadav marries Vanshika in Mussoorie, 14 Mar 2026
- News18: India’s playing XI for the 4th ODI v New Zealand, 13 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia: Kuldeep Yadav (cross-checked early life, debuts and records)
