Kuldeep Or Chakravarthy: Who Has A Higher Chance Of Success In Asia Cup 2025?

Rajgeeta Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy [Source: AFP]Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy [Source: AFP]

India are gearing up for the upcoming Asia Cup, this time in the T20 format, with an eye on the T20 World Cup next year. After winning the ODI edition in 2022, expectations are high once again.

While most of the buzz is around India’s batting firepower under captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill, the spin department could be just as crucial, especially since the matches will be played in Dubai.

Two names stand out: Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. Both bring different styles, but who is more likely to succeed in UAE conditions? Let’s break it down.

Bowling Style: Wrist Spin vs Mystery Spin

Kuldeep Yadav is a classical left-arm wrist-spinner. His style is based on flight, drift, and turn, with two main weapons: the traditional leg-break and the wrong one that spins away from right-handers. He tends to bowl slower through the air, inviting batsmen to misjudge the length. 

Chakravarthy, in contrast, is a mystery spinner who thrives on deception. He mixes carrom balls, googlies, and even the occasional leg-spin, often at a quicker pace. His strength lies in variation, which makes him difficult to line up, especially on pitches that grip.

Dubai Conditions: What History Tells Us

Data from the Dubai International Cricket Stadium shows that finger spinners (like Chakravarthy) have historically been more successful than wrist spinners.

The top wicket-taker is Saeed Ajmal, a finger spinner, with 19 wickets. Out of the top 10 most successful spinners at this venue, seven are finger spinners and only three are wrist spinners (Shadab Khan, Shahid Afridi, Wanindu Hasaranga).

This suggests that conditions in Dubai tend to favour bowlers like Chakravarthy more than wrist spinners like Kuldeep.

Kuldeep And Varun's Performance in UAE

When it comes to individual performances in the UAE, the stats tell an interesting story. Kuldeep Yadav has played 11 ODI innings in Dubai, taking 17 wickets at an average of 27.05 and an economy of 4.40. However, he has never played a T20 international in the UAE. 

Chakravarthy, meanwhile, had a forgettable T20 World Cup in 2021 where he went wicketless in three games, but he made up for it in the ODI format more recently. In just three ODIs at the Dubai International Stadium, he picked up 9 wickets at an average of 15.11 and an economy of 4.53.

Here is a comparison of their records in Dubai:

Player
Matches
Runs Conceded
Wickets
Average
Economy
Kuldeep Yadav114601727.054.4
Varun Chakravarthy3136915.114.53

On pure stats, Chakravarthy has looked more effective in Dubai recently, though Kuldeep has the larger body of work (albeit only in ODIs).

Form coming into the Asia Cup is also crucial. In IPL 2025, Kuldeep Yadav, representing Delhi Capitals, took 15 wickets in 13 matches at an economy of 7.08. Chakravarthy, playing for Kolkata Knight Riders, had a slightly better wicket tally with 17 wickets in 13 games, though his economy rate was a touch higher at 7.66. Both showed consistency, but Chakravarthy’s knack for breakthroughs stood out.

Conclusion

Taking everything into account, Chakravarthy seems better placed for success in Dubai. The conditions favour his style, and his recent numbers in both ODIs and the IPL show strong form. However, Kuldeep should not be discounted. 

His experience at the international level and his ability to produce match-winning spells could be invaluable when the pressure is highest. In the end, it may come down to whether India wants mystery or reliability on slow UAE pitches.