Defending champions India continued their dominant run in the Asia Cup 2025, securing a 41-run win over Bangladesh to book their spot in the final. The star of the night was left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who delivered a match-winning spell of 3/18 in his four overs and walked away with the Impact Player of the Match award.
The medal was presented by analyst Hari Prasad Mohan, who hailed Kuldeep’s control and variations. “The Impact Player Award goes to someone who showcased serious skills with the ball. In modern T20 cricket, not many bowlers produce spin, drift, and dip with such consistency. Tonight, it belongs to none other than Kuldeep Yadav,” Mohan remarked in a BCCI video.
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Kuldeep, reflecting on his performance, highlighted the importance of controlling the middle overs. “With the ball, Hardik and Bumrah were excellent. For us spinners, the job was to restrict runs and take out their middle order. We executed well, and the intensity was spot on. Hopefully, we carry the same energy into the final,” he said.
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The 29-year-old also achieved a significant milestone, becoming India’s leading wicket-taker in Asia Cup history (ODIs and T20Is combined). By dismissing Parvez Hossain Emon and Rishad Hossain, Kuldeep surpassed Ravindra Jadeja’s record of 29 wickets, underlining his impact on the tournament.
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While India’s bowlers shone, the batting unit faltered, managing only 168/6 in their second Super 4 clash. Bangladesh, however, failed to capitalise, folding for 127 in 19.3 overs. Despite the victory, India’s sloppy fielding raised concerns, as they dropped opener Saif Hassan four times — the most chances given to a single batter by India in T20Is.
As the Men in Blue gear up for the Asia Cup final, their bowlers appear in fine rhythm, but the batting order and fielding lapses remain areas to tighten.
