Following India‘s commanding win in their Asia Cup 2025 opener, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar’s comments on Kuldeep Yadav‘s place in the team have gone viral. This seemingly humorous comment came after Kuldeep’s incredible figures of 4/7 in just 2.1 overs, which saw him dismantle the UAE batting lineup.
Sanjay Manjrekar takes a lighthearted dig at Kuldeep Yadav after his brilliant Asia Cup 2025 spell against UAE
In a masterful display of spin bowling, Kuldeep completely dismantled the UAE batting lineup to secure India a dominant win. He began his spree by deceiving Rahul Chopra, who attempted a big shot but could only find Shubman Gill at long-on. Kuldeep’s next victims came in quick succession, with captain Muhammad Waseem trapped plumb leg before wicket as he failed to read a quicker delivery. In the same over, a deceptive googly clean bowled Harshit Kaushik, who offered a massive gap between his bat and pad. Kuldeep then returned later to take the final wicket of the innings, having Haider Ali caught behind to complete his impressive haul.
Manjrekar’s core criticism was a pointed jab at the team’s selection policy, which he believes has often treated Kuldeep unfairly. He stated on X, formally known as Twitter, with a wink, “Now that Kuldeep Yadav has taken three wickets in one over, he will not play the next game,”.
Kuldeep has 3 in one over. May not play the next game now. 😉
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) September 10, 2025
Despite his match-winning performance, the tongue-in-cheek statement suggested Kuldeep’s spot in the next game against Pakistan is not guaranteed. The comments have resonated widely, highlighting the cruel fate the talented spinner has often faced. Manjrekar’s remarks, made in a jocular tone, exposed a serious and long-standing issue in Indian cricket.
Also READ: Asia Cup 2025: Kuldeep Yadav breaks 7-year-long jinx with with a destructive spell against UAE
Kuldeep’s career of incredible numbers and tough competition
The veteran analyst’s comments were not without merit, as they are backed by Kuldeep’s stop-start international career. Despite making his debut in 2017, the left-arm spinner has only featured in 41 T20Is and a similarly low number of Tests. His bowling statistics are phenomenal, especially in the T20 format, where he boasts an impressive average of 13.39.
Yet, for much of his career, Kuldeep has had to battle for a spot against a long list of accomplished spinners, including Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Yuzvendra Chahal. His recent selection came after he was benched for the entire England tour, reinforcing the difficult path he has to navigate. This tough competition has often meant a player’s wicket-taking abilities are overlooked in favor of other factors, leaving Kuldeep on the sidelines despite his undeniable talent.
Also READ: Top 5 lowest totals in Asia Cup T20I history ft. UAE
