Kuldeep Yadav After Match-Winning Performance Against KKR

Kolkata: Delhi Capitals wrapped up their IPL 2026 campaign with a 40-run win against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Sunday. Kuldeep Yadav emerged as DC’s highest wicket-taker, which helped his side win the match. Kuldeep was named Player of the Match for his bowling figures of 29/3. In the post-match presentation, he talked about his wickets and bowling plans. “Obviously I was very clear about my plan. I realized the wicket was a bit slow in the beginning and I was just trying to change the tempo, mix it up with the mixed seam and fool the batsman. Rinku’s wicket was a perfect example because I tried to slow him down in the air and he played it straight away, so it was a good ball to get him out,” he said. Kuldeep dismissed KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane (63 off 39 balls), all-rounder Cameron Green (2 off 3 balls) and devastating batsman Rinku Singh for a golden duck.

“I’m very happy, extremely happy with what happened throughout the season. To be honest, I wasn’t happy before this game because we wanted to have a great season as a team and we didn’t finish in the top four. Personally, I didn’t think I had a great season, to be honest, because I expected more from myself, but I didn’t achieve that this season. But after the last game, I went home and worked with my coach on the things I needed to improve on. I played one match. I was there and I realized, especially in white-ball cricket, you forget the little things very quickly, to go there, work on them and come back here.” “It was nice to come and bowl like that,” he said. Talking about what went wrong with his bowling, Kuldeep said: “I thought I was bowling a little more open-chested and not using my whole body at times. What happens then is just pushing the ball and that’s where T20 batsmen become strong enough to knock you down and play on the back foot. When you start using more of your body and try to spin the ball harder, you eventually see results. You get the drop and drag and of course you can change the pace as well. It was nice to see that and I think it was a great match for me, especially “On my way back from the last match.”

Kuldeep was on the verge of scoring a hat-trick and almost did it, but wicketkeeper Abishek Porel’s missed catch prevented him from taking the hat-trick he deserved. Kuldeep, who narrowly missed out on the hat-trick, said, “To be honest, it happens in the game and I am very happy with my performance. To take a hat-trick or not to take a hat-trick is just a part of the game but I am happy with the way I bowled now.” DC finished the season in sixth place with their seventh win after successfully defending 204 in the last match of the league stage. KKR, on the other hand, was just below them in seventh place with six wins. Batting first, the visitors posted 203/5 thanks to KL Rahul’s 60, skipper Axar Patel’s 39 and late strikes from David Miller and Ashutosh Sharma. KKR’s bowlers shared the wickets but struggled to contain the scoring in the death overs.

In response, KKR started steadily with Finn Allen and Ajinkya Rahane making 43 runs, while Rahane and Manish Pandey maintained the momentum throughout the powerplay. However, the innings changed after Kuldeep Yadav’s double removed Rahane and Rinku Singh, followed by Axar Patel’s wicket to Tejasvi Dahiya. Mitchell Starc and Lungi Ngidi then cleared the lower order as KKR were bowled out for 163 in 18.4 overs, sealing a comprehensive win for DC and ending their campaign on a positive note. Going back to the basics of T20 cricket, Kuldeep said: “One hundred percent. When I spoke to my coach, he was really blunt with me and said: ‘Boss, you have to spin the ball. Try to deceive the batsman.” I understand batsmen are tough on you, but when you spin the ball there is always a chance you can get them out. Also, in the last few matches I wasn’t using my whole body. I thought I was bowling well at times, but when you miss something in your run or rhythm, it ultimately affects your game.”