Kuldeep Yadav’s mic malfunctioned during the post-match press conference, until Sanjay Manjrekar stepped in to save the moment.
Kuldeep Yadav Silences Critics with Match-Winning Spell
Playing his first match for India after six months, Kuldeep Yadav sent a strong message to his detractors: he remains India’s No. 1 spinner, and ignoring him comes at a cost. After being sidelined throughout the five-Test series against England, Kuldeep returned in style, ripping through the UAE batting order to set up India’s commanding nine-wicket win in their Asia Cup 2025 opener.
Sharing seven wickets with Shivam Dube, Kuldeep stood out with remarkable figures of 4/7, including a breathtaking over in which he claimed three wickets. While India looked certain to steamroll the hosts regardless, Kuldeep Yadav’s brilliance made the job quicker and easier.
His Player-of-the-Match performance sparked immediate interest in his mindset. When asked by Sanjay Manjrekar about his ability to deliver top-class performances despite long gaps in selection, Kuldeep was given the chance to finally speak his truth about limited opportunities.
When Kuldeep’s mic stopped working, Sanjay Manjrekar jumped right in
Playing his first match for India after six months, Kuldeep Yadav sent a strong message to his detractors: he remains India’s No. 1 spinner, and ignoring him comes at a cost. After being sidelined throughout the five-Test series against England, Kuldeep returned in style, ripping through the UAE batting order to set up India’s commanding nine-wicket win in their Asia Cup 2025 opener.
Sharing seven wickets with Shivam Dube, Kuldeep stood out with remarkable figures of 4/7, including a breathtaking over in which he claimed three wickets. While India looked certain to steamroll the hosts regardless, Kuldeep’s brilliance made the job quicker and easier.
His Player-of-the-Match performance sparked immediate interest in his mindset. When Sanjay Manjrekar asked about his ability to deliver despite long gaps in selection, the moment took an unusual twist. The mic malfunctioned midway through Kuldeep’s reply, leaving the only audible line as: “It was tough for me.”
Manjrekar quickly stepped in, handing Kuldeep his working mic, ensuring the spinner’s words were finally heard. Kuldeep then explained his approach with calm assurance: “Especially in this format, reading the length is important and the batters, what they are trying to do. Also about reaction to what the batters are trying to do against you.”
