"Turup ka ikka" - Mohammed Kaif lauds Kuldeep Yadav as 'genuine wicket-taker' after win over UAE in Asia Cup opener

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"Turup ka ikka" - Mohammed Kaif lauds Kuldeep Yadav as 'genuine wicket-taker' after win over UAE in Asia Cup opener image

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India kicked off their title defence campaign in the Asia Cup 2025 on a high note as they bulldozed past hosts UAE to register a thumping nine-wicket win.

UAE made an impressive start but then their batting completely crumbled as Kuldeep Yadav weaved his magic with amazing spin bowling.

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The left-arm spinner ended up with 4 for 7 figures and even took just three wickets in one single over. Shivam Dube got rid of the tail and registered three wickets, while Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel took a wicket each.

While chasing, India took just 4.3 overs to reach their target of 58 runs, as Abhishek Sharma scored 30 off 16 balls and Shubman Gill remained not out on 20 off nine balls. 

The dominating win over UAE will be a huge boost for team India's confidence ahead of Sunday's big-ticket clash against arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai. 

READ: ‘Miss you Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’: India fans' heartfelt banner at IND vs UAE Asia Cup 2025 match

Mohammed Kaif lauds Kuldeep Yadav as 'genuine wicket-taker' 

Former India international Mohammad Kaif lauded Yadav for his exceptional bowling performance, while claiming the spinner is a genuine wicket-taker and will be India's key match-winner in the Asia Cup 2025.

Kaif shared a video of himself on his Instagram profile, where he said: "Kuldeep Yadav did not play any match on the England tour. He sat out throughout the series and served water. He only practiced, and after 108 days, he got the opportunity to play in the Asia Cup against the UAE. With four wickets, he became Player of the Match.

"Kuldeep Yadav gave just seven runs and bagged four wickets. He took three wickets in his second over, in just one over. The match ended there. Bowled just 13 balls and bagged four wickets, and there were 11 deliveries to spare. If he had bowled those 11 balls, he would have finished with five or six wickets."

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Kaif added: "Don’t say that the UAE is a weaker team. I can understand. You can bring Pakistan, New Zealand, play an IPL match, you bowl him anywhere in the middle overs, he’s a genuine wicket-taker. That’s why the Indian team has got a bowler who has form and became Man of the Match. Asia Cup mein yeh ban jayega turup ka ikka (He will become X-factor in Asia Cup)."

What next for the Indian cricket team?

Suryakumar Yadav and Co. will next face Pakistan in their second group game on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

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Ritabrata is a content producer for The Sporting News' India edition