Indian cricket head coach Gautam Gambhir and star spinner Kuldeep Yadav were spotted at Ahmedabad airport on Tuesday, just two days before the opening Test against West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The duo arrived directly from Dubai, where they were part of India’s Asia Cup 2025 triumph over Pakistan.
Kuldeep Yadav was the standout bowler of the tournament, finishing with a phenomenal 17 wickets from seven games—seven more than Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi, who ended with 10. His best spell of 4/7 and an economy rate of just 6.27 underlined his dominance. With those figures, he also broke Lasith Malinga’s long-standing Asia Cup record, taking his tally across formats to 36 wickets.
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#WATCH | Gujarat | Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir and cricketer Kuldeep Yadav reached Ahmedabad earlier today pic.twitter.com/lGeVL72cAw
— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2025
The Asia Cup final once again highlighted Kuldeep’s value, as he dismantled Pakistan’s middle and lower order, sparking a collapse that saw them lose nine wickets for just 33 runs. While Tilak Varma anchored the chase, it was Kuldeep’s spell that set up India’s five-wicket win.
WATCH – Tilak Varma Receives Grand Welcome In Hyderabad After Asia Cup 2025 Heroics
Kuldeep now returns to the Test fold, aiming to revive his red-ball career. His last Test match was in October 2024 against New Zealand in Bengaluru, where he took three wickets in the first innings, although India ultimately lost by eight wickets.
Since then, tours of Australia and England passed him by, but with Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement, Kuldeep will be central to India’s spin attack alongside Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.
WATCH – Suryakumar Yadav Gets Hero’s Welcome in Hometown After Asia Cup 2025 Triumph
For Gautam Gambhir, this Test series offers redemption. His last red-ball assignment at home ended in a 0-3 defeat against New Zealand, raising questions about his coaching approach in the longer format. With West Indies struggling in recent years, Gambhir has a golden chance to sharpen his Test coaching credentials and set the tone for India’s upcoming season.
