Kuldeep Yadav Turns Heads; Joins 300-Wicket Club With Epic Display Against Pakistan

Kuldeep Yadav celebrating Shaheen Afridi's wicket (Source: AP Photos)

The India vs Pakistan clash is one of the most anticipated clashes in the history of the game and Indian bowlers have already made their mark in the game with a clinical performance against Pakistan in Dubai.

India's left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav etched his name in the history books by claiming his 300th international wicket during the high-voltage Champions Trophy 2025 clash against Pakistan in Dubai. The milestone wicket came at a crucial juncture, adding to India's dominance in the later middle overs as they looked to restrict Pakistan's scoring.

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Kuldeep Yadav bags 3-fer at the big stage

Kuldeep Yadav proved to be a game-changer, picking up three wickets in his spell. His victims included Agha Salman, whom he had caught by Axar Patel, and Shaheen Afridi, who fell leg-before-wicket the very next delivery. 

Yadav then dismissed Naseem Shah, caught by Virat Kohli, ensuring Pakistan's lower order did not gain momentum in the death overs. His figures of 3/40 in nine overs at an economy rate of 4.44 highlighted his control and effectiveness on a pitch-assisting turn.

With this achievement, Kuldeep Yadav joins an elite list of India's top wicket-takers across formats. With Anil Kumble standing at the top boasting 953 wickets, Yadav ranks just below Ajit Agarkar with his 302 scalps in international cricket.

Table - Most International Wickets For India

Pakistan Struggles With Kuldeep's Contributions

Pakistan, after opting to bat first, saw early setbacks as Babar Azam (23) and Imam-ul-Haq (10) departed within the first 10 overs. However, Saud Shakeel (62) and Mohammad Rizwan (46) stabilized the innings with a solid 104-run partnership. 

Once Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Agha Salman for 19 and trapped Shaheen Afridi for a golden duck, Pakistan struggled to build momentum. Harshit Rana and Axar Patel chipped in with crucial wickets, while Hardik Pandya’s disciplined spell (2/31) ensured India kept the scoring rate in check.

Despite a late fightback from Khushdil Shah (38), Pakistan lost their last five wickets for just 41 runs, folding in 49.4 overs. With a modest target set, India's chase will now depend on how well they handle Pakistan's potent bowling attack.

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