Yuzvendra Chahal has showered praise on his longtime spin partner Kuldeep Yadav, hailing him as the best wrist spinner in world cricket today. While Chahal was once an integral part of India’s spin attack alongside Kuldeep, he now finds himself on the sidelines, having last played for the national team in August 2023. However, the 34-year-old insists he is not worried about making a return, as selection is beyond his control.
For years, the ‘Kul-Cha’ duo dominated India’s white-ball spin department, tormenting opposition batters with their attacking mindset. Their partnership played a crucial role in several of India’s victories, as they complemented each other with their contrasting styles. While Kuldeep has cemented his place in India’s ODI and T20I squads, Chahal has struggled to find a consistent spot. Nevertheless, ahead of IPL 2025, Chahal has nothing but admiration for his former bowling partner.
“I don’t think about what is not in my hands. Right now, he (Kuldeep) is the No.1 wrist spinner in the world. It shows in the way he is bowling both in IPL and international cricket,” Yuzvendra Chahal said in an interview with Hindustan Times.
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The leg-spinner also highlighted the strong camaraderie he shares with Kuldeep, emphasizing how their trust in each other was the foundation of their success.
“I have loved bowling with Kuldeep. We share a great bond, on and off the field. It was fun bowling with him because we have a similar approach—we both love to attack. It was also partnership bowling; if one of us went for runs, the other would tighten things up. We always trusted each other,” he added.
Their impact as a duo is evident in the numbers—across 37 ODIs together, they claimed a combined 130 wickets. However, with the team management placing more faith in Kuldeep in recent years, Chahal has found himself on the fringes. While he was part of India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad in 2024, he did not feature in a single game. Meanwhile, Kuldeep played a pivotal role in both the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy 2025 triumphs.
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With IPL 2025 around the corner, both spinners will look to make their mark once again. Chahal, who was acquired by Punjab Kings for a massive INR 18 crore, will aim to prove his worth. Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals showed their faith in Kuldeep by retaining him for INR 13.25 crore. While their international paths may have diverged, the upcoming IPL season could reignite the ‘Kul-Cha’ magic on the field.
