Analysing the effectiveness of Kuldeep Yadav as India's X-factor for South Africa Tests

Kuldeep Yadav [Source: AFP Photos]

Kuldeep Yadav has been quite the 'magician' with the ball in his recent outings for the Indian cricket team, be it the Asia Cup 2025 or the recently concluded West Indies Tests. While the 30-year-old left-arm wrist spinner was continuing to weave his spin magic in the ongoing Australia T20I series, he was called off abruptly to join India A's squad for the unofficial 2nd Test.

From a zoomed-out perspective, the call-up is for the preparations ahead of the South Africa Test series, which is set to begin on November 14. Whether Kuldeep gets his foot in for the Tests or not, here's an analysis that probably makes a strong case for the spinner against the Proteas men on Indian soil.

Kuldeep Yadav's 2025 form with the ball

Kuldeep Yadav's scintillating form makes a strong case for his inclusion in the Playing XI of India for the West Indies Test. In 2025, Kuldeep bagged 41 wickets from 20 innings while bowling 11 maiden overs, maintaining an economy rate of 4.63.

(Table - Kuldeep Yadav's 2025 form)

His starry performances came in all three formats with a 3-wicket haul against Pakistan in ODIs, a 5-wicket haul against the West Indies in Tests, and a 4-fer again while tumbling Pakistan batters in the Asia Cup. Hence, he will be willing to carry his red-hot form in the upcoming tests as well.

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Kuldeep Yadav's form against South Africa

Kuldeep Yadav hasn't played any Test matches against South Africa in his career, but fortunately, his stats in ODIs and T20Is speak of his credibility against the visitors.

(Table - Kuldeep Yadav's form against South Africa)

Kuldeep Yadav's most memorable performance was in an ODI against South Africa on October 11, 2022, where he scalped 4 wickets for just 18 runs from his 4.1 overs. Another was his T20I exploit against South Africa in 2023, where he bagged 5 wickets for just 17 runs from 3 overs, at an economy rate of 6.00.

Proteas batters whom Kuldeep can target

With Kuldeep's chinaman attack, there are a few batters from the South Africa squad who are vulnerable to left-arm spin and can be prey to Kuldeep's craft.

Tony de Zorzi

• Tony de Zorzi, the top-order southpaw for South Africa, can be loose prey for Kuldeep Yadav in the Test. Zorzi has been cautious in his approach against left-arm spinners. 
• In his 13 Test outings, he has been dismissed 10 times by them, marking his success rate as 23.1%. His average against left-arm spin is 25.8, having faced 392 balls. He also has a dot-ball percentage of 61.2% against them.

Ryan Rickelton

• In tests, Ryan Rickelton has faced left-arm spinners 17 times, being dismissed on 9 occasions with a success rate of 47.1%. 
• Despite maintaining a decent average of 30.2, his dot-ball percentage of 72.5% highlights his struggles against left-arm spin. Having faced 561 deliveries, he has scored 272 runs at a strike rate of 48.5.

Aiden Markram

• Aiden Markram has also been cautious against left-arm spinners. In 27 matches, he has been dismissed 16 times by them with a success rate of 40.7%, scoring 324 runs at a low average of 20.2. 
• He also has a high dot-ball percentage of 74.2% against left-arm spin, which makes him a potential target for Kuldeep Yadav.

Kuldeep's venue adaptability for spin

Kuldeep Yadav has played 4 matches in the Eden Gardens and picked up 11 wickets at an economy rate of 4.28 while having an average of 11.36. In Guwahati, though, he hasn't played any match, and all these factors sum up his effectiveness against South Africa in tests.

Conclusion

Kuldeep Yadav should be a great inclusion in the playing XI of India if the management is planning for a two-spinner, two-pacer attack. Kuldeep, alongside Ravindra Jadeja or Washington Sundar, can add to the dynamics of spin and trouble the South African top order, who don't have much experience of playing at venues like Eden Gardens or in Guwahati.

Exposing the batting lineup early will be key, and with a helpful turning track in both the venues, Kuldeep can once again rise to the occasion to script South Africa's disappointing fate in the upcoming two-match Test series.

Kuldeep Yadav's effective meter score

• Recent form: 9/10 (41 wickets in 20 innings with economy 4.63)
• Venue record (Eden Gardens): 8/10 (11 wickets at 11.36 avg in 4 matches)
• Opposition vulnerability: 8.5/10 (Zorzi, Markram, Rickelton, struggle vs left-arm spin)

Kuldeep Yadav Effective Meter vs South Africa: 8.5/10

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