Kuldeep Yadav has established himself as one of the most distinctive wrist-spin bowlers in modern international cricket. A left-arm wrist spinner, traditionally known as a “chinaman,” he combines drift, dip, turn and changes of pace to challenge batters from angles they do not regularly encounter.
His career has produced several match-winning spells, but five performances stand out for their impact, quality of opposition and historical significance. From a breakthrough Test debut against Australia to record-setting spells against England, Pakistan and West Indies, these performances show how Kuldeep has used variation and control to change matches.
At a Glance: Kuldeep Yadav’s Top 5 Bowling Performances
Opponent & Venue | Format | Figures | Why It Stands Out | Result |
Pakistan, Colombo, 2023 | ODI | 5/25 | Match-winning Asia Cup spell | India won by 228 runs |
England, Nottingham, 2018 | ODI | 6/25 | Career-best ODI figures | India won by 8 wickets |
England, Manchester, 2018 | T20I | 5/24 | First T20I five-wicket haul | India won by 8 wickets |
West Indies, Visakhapatnam, 2019 | ODI | 3/52 | Second international hat-trick | India won by 107 runs |
Australia, Dharamsala, 2017 | Test | 4/68 | Outstanding Test debut | India won by 8 wickets |
1. Kuldeep Yadav’s 5/25 vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2023
Kuldeep’s five-wicket haul against Pakistan in the 2023 Asia Cup remains one of his most influential ODI performances.
India posted 356/2 in the Super Four match in Colombo, with Pakistan facing a target of 357. After the Indian fast bowlers applied early pressure, Kuldeep took control of the middle overs and finished with 5/25. Pakistan eventually made 128/8, with India winning by 228 runs.
The spell demonstrated how effective Kuldeep can be when he attacks the stumps while retaining enough flight and variation to make batters commit to their shots.
2. Kuldeep Yadav’s 6/25 vs England, Nottingham 2018
Kuldeep’s 6/25 against England at Trent Bridge is his best ODI bowling performance and arguably the defining spell of his early international career.
England began strongly, reaching 73 without loss, but Kuldeep’s introduction completely changed the innings. He dismissed Jason Roy, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow among his first three wickets, exploiting England’s difficulty in reading his variations. He eventually finished with 6/25 as England were bowled out for 268. India chased the target with eight wickets to spare.
The spell was especially notable because Trent Bridge had a reputation for producing high-scoring ODI cricket. Kuldeep did not rely on extreme turns. Instead, he used flight, drift, accuracy and changes in direction to keep England's batters uncertain.
His six wickets included Roy, Root, Bairstow, Buttler, Stokes and David Willey.
3. Kuldeep Yadav’s 5/24 vs England, Manchester 2018
Just days before his Trent Bridge six-for, Kuldeep produced another exceptional performance against England in the first T20I at Old Trafford.
England reached 159/8 after Kuldeep returned 5/24, while India chased the target with eight wickets in hand. His victims included Alex Hales, Eoin Morgan, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root and Jos Buttler.
This was Kuldeep’s first five-wicket haul in T20Is and showed that his wrist-spin could be just as dangerous in the shorter format.
Eoin Morgan later acknowledged that Kuldeep had deceived England’s batters, underlining how difficult his variations were to pick.
4. Kuldeep Yadav’s 3/52 and Hat-Trick vs West Indies, Vizag 2019
Kuldeep’s figures of 3/52 against West Indies in Visakhapatnam do not look as dominant as his five- and six-wicket hauls, but the spell earns its place because of its historical importance.
India posted 387/5 before Kuldeep produced the decisive moment in the West Indies chase. In the 33rd over, he dismissed Shai Hope, Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph from three consecutive deliveries, becoming the first Indian bowler to claim two international hat-tricks. India won by 107 runs.
The sequence showed three different elements of Kuldeep’s skill. Hope was caught by Virat Kohli at the boundary, Holder was stumped by Rishabh Pant after being beaten by the wrong’un, and Joseph edged the hat-trick ball to Kedar Jadhav at slip.
The hat-trick was not simply about luck. Kuldeep had to choose his delivery carefully with Joseph facing the hat-trick ball, eventually opting for his wrong’un and setting a slip in anticipation of an edge.
5. Kuldeep Yadav’s 4/68 on Test Debut vs Australia, Dharamsala 2017
Kuldeep’s Test debut against Australia in Dharamsala provided an early indication of his ability to perform under pressure.
With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy still in contention, Kuldeep was handed a surprise opportunity in the fourth Test. Australia reached 300 all out, but the debutant claimed 4/68, dismissing David Warner, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell and Pat Cummins.
His dismissal of Maxwell was particularly memorable. Kuldeep bowled a wrong’un after setting the batter up with deliveries around the leg side, causing Maxwell to misjudge the change of direction.
The performance demonstrated more than Kuldeep’s ability to spin the ball. It showed composure, tactical awareness and confidence on a major stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Kuldeep Yadav’s best ODI bowling figures?
Kuldeep Yadav’s best ODI figures are 6/25 against England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, in 2018.
How many international hat-tricks has Kuldeep Yadav taken?
Kuldeep has taken two international hat-tricks, both in ODIs. His first came against Australia in Kolkata in 2017, while his second came against West Indies in Visakhapatnam in 2019.
Is Kuldeep Yadav a chinaman bowler?
Yes. Kuldeep is a left-arm wrist spinner, a bowling style traditionally described as “chinaman.”
What was Kuldeep Yadav’s Test debut?
Kuldeep made his Test debut against Australia at Dharamsala in March 2017. He took 4/68 in Australia’s first innings.
Conclusion
The top 5 best bowling performances of Kuldeep Yadav reveal different sides of his skill set. His 6/25 against England remains his standout ODI spell, while the 5/24 in Manchester showed how quickly he could influence a T20I. His 5/25 against Pakistan demonstrated his maturity in a high-profile ODI, the Vizag hat-trick highlighted his ability to create history, and his 4/68 on Test debut showed that he could handle pressure from the beginning of his Test career.
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