Kuldeep Yadav to represent Yorkshire in One-Day Cup, County Championship
Leeds, July 22
India left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav has joined Yorkshire as an overseas signing for the remainder of the English domestic season, the club announced on Wednesday.
He will feature in five One-Day Cup matches from July 24 to August 2 before leaving for India's two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in August, where he is expected to be part of the squad. Kuldeep will then return to Yorkshire in September to play the club's final three County Championship matches of the season.
His stint will get underway with Yorkshire's One-Day Cup clash against Glamorgan on Friday at Neath.
Speaking after joining Yorkshire, Kuldeep Yadav said he was delighted to sign for the club and described it as a privilege to represent a team with such a rich history.
"I'm really pleased to be joining Yorkshire and grateful for this opportunity. It will be a real privilege to represent a Club with Yorkshire's proud history," he said as quoted by the Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
Kuldeep Yadav said he enjoys the challenge of playing in English conditions and is eager to contribute positively during his stint with Yorkshire.
"I've always enjoyed the challenge of playing in English conditions and after speaking with the management, I became really excited to join up with the team and I'm looking forward to making a positive contribution during my time at Headingley," he said.
Gavin Hamilton, General Manager of Cricket, hailed Kuldeep as a proven international who will strengthen the side, adding that his left-arm wrist spin could be crucial on dry pitches during the closing stages of the season.
"Kuldeep is an accomplished, international quality player who will add incredible strength to our lineup for these blocks of fixtures. Given the dry summer we've experienced, we expect spin to play an important role during the closing stages of the season. Kuldeep gives us another dimension with his left-arm wrist spin and brings a wealth of experience at the highest level. We're delighted to welcome him to Yorkshire," he said.
Notably, Kuldeep did not play a single match during India's white-ball tour of Ireland and England. His omission throughout the tour came as a surprise to many.
The left-arm wrist-spinner last played in the one-off Test against Afghanistan in June. He has taken 79 wickets in 18 Tests at an average of 22.35, while his ODI record stands at 194 wickets in 121 matches, with best figures of 6 for 25.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, I'm surprised he wasn't given a chance during the England tour. With Chahal not in the squad either, our spin attack looked weak. Kuldeep's variety could have made a difference in the middle overs. Yorkshire is lucky to have him!
This is exactly what he needs—regular match practice in challenging conditions. County cricket has helped so many Indian players improve their game. Remember how Rahul Dravid and Zaheer Khan benefited? Wishing Kuldeep all the best! 🙌
I have mixed feelings. While it's good for his development, why is the BCCI letting him play county cricket when he's supposed to be in the India squad for Sri Lanka? Our scheduling is a mess—players are either overburdened or underutilized. Hope this doesn't affect his fitness for the Bangladesh series later.
Kuldeep is a gem—his hat-trick against Australia in 2017 was legendary. But he's been in and out of the team lately. Getting some county experience will be great for his confidence. Yorkshire fans, treat him well! He's a match-winner on his day. 🏏
Why wasn't he given a single game in England or Ireland? That's the real question. Our selectors seem to have short memories. Kuldeep's stats in Tests are excellent, and his ODI record speaks for itself. Hope he proves them wrong with a stellar county season!
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