✦ Celebrity stories, facts and career updates. Explore F4U now →

Home › Biography › Kuldeep Yadav (Cricketer)

Kuldeep Yadav (Cricketer) biographyFeatured Biography

Image source: StarsUnfolded

Athletes

Kuldeep Yadav (Cricketer) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 6, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth14 December 1994

Age31 Years

BirthplaceUnnao, Uttar Pradesh

ProfessionCricketer (Bowler)

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseVanshika Chadha

FamilyFather - Ram Singh Yadav; Mother - Usha Yadav; Sisters - Anushka Singh Yadav, Dimple (Madhu) Yadav, Anita Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav (Cricketer) Biography

Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav rose from Kanpur to become one of India’s prominent limited-overs and Test bowlers. Known for rare 'chinaman' bowling,

Early life and background

Kuldeep Yadav was born on 14 December 1994 in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, and grew up in Kanpur. He developed an early interest in cricket while attending Karam Devi Memorial Academy World School in Kanpur. His father, Ram Singh Yadav, who ran a brick kiln, supported Kuldeep’s ambitions and enrolled him in the local cricket academy run by coach Kapil Pandey.

As a youngster Kuldeep initially wanted to bowl fast, inspired by pacemen such as Zaheer Khan and Wasim Akram, but his coach steered him toward left-arm wrist spin — a rare style often called chinaman. He studied footage of Shane Warne and adapted his game to become a specialist spinner. He also enjoys painting, flying kites, watching football, and travelling, and shares his artwork and photos of his pet dogs on social media.

Career

Kuldeep emerged on the national radar with a breakthrough at the 2014 Under-19 World Cup, where he finished as his team’s leading wicket-taker and became the first Indian to take a hat-trick in the history of the tournament. His early IPL experience included being bought by Mumbai Indians in 2012 and later by Kolkata Knight Riders, where he began to earn playing time from 2016 onward.

Domestically, Kuldeep has represented Uttar Pradesh across age-group levels, played for Central Zone, and made his Ranji Trophy debut in 2016–17. Strong performances in the 2016 Duleep Trophy, where he took 17 wickets in three matches, helped push him into national selection conversations.

Kuldeep made his international Test debut on 25 March 2017 versus Australia at Dharamshala. He took four wickets in Australia’s first innings, becoming the first left-arm wrist-spinner to represent India in Tests and one of the few bowlers to take four on debut. His maiden Test five-wicket haul came against the West Indies in October 2018, and he added another five-wicket haul in Australia in January 2019.

He earned his ODI debut selection in June 2017 for the series against the West Indies, though rain prevented him from bowling in his first scheduled match. His limited-overs career has been distinguished by a number of standout achievements: he recorded a hat-trick against Australia at Eden Gardens in September 2017 and became the first Indian to claim two international hat-tricks when he took another against the West Indies in December 2019.

In ODIs Kuldeep recorded his best figures of 6 for 25 against England in July 2018, the best ODI return by a left-arm spinner at the time. In T20 internationals he became the first left-arm wrist-spinner to take a five-wicket haul, achieving the feat against England in July 2018, and later claimed another five-wicket haul against South Africa in December 2023, making him the first Indian spinner with multiple five-wicket T20I hauls.

Kuldeep was part of India’s squads for multiple global tournaments, including the 2019 and 2023 ICC Cricket World Cups, finishing those events with six and seven wickets respectively. He has also delivered notable performances in Asia Cup competition, including a five-wicket haul against Pakistan in 2023.

In the Indian Premier League, Kuldeep spent time with Kolkata Knight Riders before being bought by Delhi Capitals in the 2022 auction. He took 21 wickets in 14 matches for Delhi Capitals in 2022 and was retained by the franchise for the 2023 season. His IPL career has had ups and downs, including a quiet 2020 tournament that led to him being dropped from KKR’s playing eleven.

Public profile

Kuldeep’s rare bowling style and match-defining spells have made him a high-profile figure in Indian cricket. He is often paired in the public imagination with fellow wrist-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal; the pair are popularly nicknamed “Kulcha.” Kuldeep’s off-field interests, particularly painting and his active social media presence, add to his public persona.

He has shared difficult personal moments publicly as well, including a period of intense disappointment in youth selection and a 2018 incident when his Instagram account was compromised; he addressed that breach directly on social media.

Latest updates

Kuldeep became engaged on 4 June 2025 and married Vanshika Chadha on 14 March 2026. In August 2024 the BCCI included him in the Duleep Trophy squad as part of preparations ahead of Test fixtures, alongside several other senior Indian internationals. His competitive form has continued to produce milestones, such as the December 2023 T20I five-wicket haul at the Wanderers and the Asia Cup five-for against Pakistan in 2023.

Personal life

Kuldeep is married to Vanshika Chadha. His mother is Usha Yadav and he has three sisters: Anushka Singh Yadav, Dimple (Madhu) Yadav, and Anita Yadav. He wears jersey number 23 for India and in the IPL, and bats left-handed while bowling left-arm wrist spin.

Records and playing style

Kuldeep is noted for several firsts and rare feats: India’s first bowler to take two international hat-tricks, the first left-arm wrist-spinner to take a T20I five-wicket haul, and multiple five-wicket hauls across formats. His craft relies on the unorthodox wrist-spinning action that has produced match-turning spells at international level.
◈

Recent Work

Duleep Trophy (selection)

Selected by BCCI in August 2024 to play in the Duleep Trophy ahead of the Bangladesh Test series.

2024
Delhi Capitals (IPL)

Retained by Delhi Capitals after the 2022 season; took 21 wickets in 14 matches in 2022 and remained in the squad for 2023.

2022-2023
✦

Career Highlights

  1. Made Test debut for India on 25 March 2017 versus Australia, taking four wickets in the first innings.
  2. First Indian to take two international hat-tricks; hat-tricks against Australia (2017) and West Indies (2019).
  3. Recorded best ODI figures of 6/25 against England in July 2018.
  4. First left-arm wrist-spinner to take a five-wicket haul in T20 internationals and first Indian spinner with multiple T20I five-wicket hauls.
  5. Leading wicket-taker for India in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup and first Indian to take a hat-trick in that tournament.
?

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Kuldeep Yadav (Cricketer) born?

14 December 1994

What is Kuldeep Yadav (Cricketer) known for?

Cricketer (Bowler)

What is Kuldeep Yadav (Cricketer)’s marital status?

Married

Who is Kuldeep Yadav (Cricketer) married to?

Vanshika Chadha