Akram expressed his admiration for Kuldeep’s artistry.
Team India opened their Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a resounding nine-wicket victory over UAE at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday (September 10).
Opting to bowl first, India bowled out UAE for only 57 in 13.1 overs. Kuldeep Yadav stole the show with a four-wicket haul (4/7), while the likes of Shivam Dube (3/4), Varun Chakaravarthy (1/4), Axar Patel (1/13) and Jasprit Bumrah (1/19) also played their part to perfection.
In reply, the defending champions overhauled a rather small target inside the powerplay (4.3 overs), with opener Abhishek Sharma playing a quick-fire knock of 30 runs in 16 balls and vice-captain Shubman Gill finishing the job with 20* off 9 balls.
For his match-winning spell, Kuldeep earned the Player-of-the-Match award and the wrist-spinner also drew rich praise from Pakistan great Wasim Akram.
Speaking on Sony Sports, Akram expressed his admiration for Kuldeep’s artistry, explaining how difficult it is even for experts to pick the left-arm tweaker’s variations
“Leg-spinner, googly, flipper— even I can’t read him sitting here. Even with a replay, it’s impossible," Akram said.
The legendary fast bowler also shared early memories of coaching Kuldeep during his time with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.
“I remember meeting Kuldeep when he was very young, when he joined Knight Riders. He and Mohammad Shami were with me all the time—breakfast, lunch, dinner, during the game. If they weren’t playing, they were sitting with me. They were hungry. Kuldeep was hungry," Akram stated.
Wasim Akram also offered insights into Shami’s eagerness to learn. “I remember Shami once came to drop me at the airport in a car. I asked him, ‘Why are you coming with me?’ He said, ‘Wasim bhai, I want to listen to you and hear what you have to say in general.’ Credit to them. I’m really proud of these boys, and they’ve done incredibly well for their country."
Kuldeep Yadav will be keen to carry his good showing in India’s next group-stage match against arch-rivals Pakistan, scheduled for September 14 in Dubai.