Kuldeep Yadav Biography: Age, Wife Vanshika, Family, Stats, Hat-Tricks, IPL Team LSG & Latest News
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Kuldeep Yadav is an Indian cricketer and left-arm wrist-spin (“chinaman”) bowler from Uttar Pradesh who has played all three formats for India since 2017. He is the first Indian to take two ODI hat-tricks, won the T20 World Cup in 2024 and 2026 and the Champions Trophy in 2025, and will play for Lucknow Super Giants from IPL 2027. This Kuldeep Yadav biography covers his age, family, wife Vanshika, career, stats, records, IPL team and the latest news.
Kuldeep Yadav Key Facts
- Born: 14 December 1994, Unnao, Uttar Pradesh; raised in Kanpur
- Role: Left-arm wrist-spin bowler (chinaman), left-handed batter
- Debuts: Test v Australia (March 2017), ODI and T20I v West Indies (June–July 2017)
- Records: First Indian with two ODI hat-tricks (2017 and 2019); first left-arm wrist-spinner to take five wickets in a T20I
- Titles: T20 World Cup 2024 and 2026, Champions Trophy 2025, Asia Cup 2023 and 2025
- IPL team: Lucknow Super Giants (from 2027); earlier Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals
- Wife: Vanshika Chadha (married 14 March 2026, Mussoorie)
- Domestic team: Uttar Pradesh
Kuldeep Yadav Latest News
- Back in the ODI side v New Zealand (13 November 2026): Kuldeep was one of three changes for the fourth ODI at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, where stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer chose to bowl first. New Zealand’s batters attacked him and he had an expensive day, going without a wicket. India led the five-match series 2–0 going into the game, and the final ODI is on 15 November.
- Traded to Lucknow Super Giants (June 2026): In one of the biggest IPL trades, Delhi Capitals sent Kuldeep to Lucknow Super Giants in exchange for Rishabh Pant. Kuldeep moves at his existing fee of ₹13.5 crore after taking 72 wickets in 65 matches for Delhi since 2022, and will play his home games in his home state from IPL 2027.
- County stint with Yorkshire (July 2026): He signed a short-term deal with Yorkshire for the One-Day Cup and three rounds of the 2026 County Championship.
- Wedding (14 March 2026): Days after India won the 2026 T20 World Cup, Kuldeep married his childhood friend Vanshika Chadha at Welcomhotel The Savoy in Mussoorie, with teammates including Yuzvendra Chahal and Tilak Varma among the guests.
Kuldeep Yadav Biography, Age and Wiki
| Bio | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kuldeep Yadav |
| Nickname | KD; half of “KulCha” with Yuzvendra Chahal |
| Profession | Cricketer (bowler) |
| Date of Birth | 14 December 1994 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 31 years |
| Birthplace | Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Hometown | Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Coach | Kapil Pandey |
| Family | |
| Father | Ram Singh Yadav (brick-kiln owner) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Vanshika Chadha (m. 14 March 2026) |
| Cricket | |
| Batting / Bowling | Left-handed / Left-arm wrist spin |
| Test Debut | 25 March 2017 v Australia, Dharamshala |
| ODI Debut | 23 June 2017 v West Indies, Port of Spain |
| T20I Debut | 9 July 2017 v West Indies, Kingston |
| Domestic Team | Uttar Pradesh |
| IPL Teams | Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals (2022–2026), Lucknow Super Giants (from 2027) |
| County | Yorkshire (2026) |
Kuldeep Yadav Early Life and Family
Kuldeep Yadav was born on 14 December 1994 in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, and grew up in Kanpur, where his father, Ram Singh Yadav, ran a brick kiln. His father encouraged his love of cricket and took him to coach Kapil Pandey. Kuldeep first wanted to be a fast bowler like his hero Wasim Akram, but Pandey saw that his wrist could spin the ball sharply and moved him to left-arm wrist spin, a rare style in India. Kuldeep later modelled himself on Australian great Shane Warne.
The road was not smooth. He has said that being left out of Uttar Pradesh’s under-15 team hit him so hard that he thought about giving up cricket, but he stayed with it and went on to play for India at the 2014 Under-19 World Cup.
Kuldeep Yadav Career
Domestic Cricket and IPL Beginnings
Kuldeep has played for Uttar Pradesh since 2009. He was part of Mumbai Indians’ squad in 2012 without playing, then joined Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014, where he developed into one of the IPL’s most dangerous spinners. KKR bought him back at the 2018 auction. In 2022 he joined Delhi Capitals and had a superb first season, winning four player-of-the-match awards, the most by any player that year.
International Debut (2017)
Kuldeep made his Test debut against Australia in Dharamshala on 25 March 2017 and took four wickets in the first innings, becoming India’s first left-arm wrist-spinner in Test cricket. He made his ODI debut against the West Indies in Port of Spain in June 2017 and his T20I debut in Kingston weeks later.
Hat-Tricks and Records (2017–2020)
On 21 September 2017 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Kuldeep took an ODI hat-trick against Australia, becoming only the third Indian to do so after Chetan Sharma and Kapil Dev. In July 2018 in England he took 5/17 in a T20I, the first five-wicket haul by a left-arm wrist-spinner in the format, and then 6/25 in an ODI. He took his first Test five-for against the West Indies in Rajkot in October 2018 and 5/99 at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2019. On 18 December 2019 he took a second ODI hat-trick, against the West Indies, becoming the first Indian bowler with two. In January 2020 he became the fastest Indian spinner to 100 ODI wickets.
Comeback and Trophies (2023–2026)
After a quieter spell, Kuldeep returned strongly in 2023. He was named player of the tournament at the 2023 Asia Cup, where he took 5/25 against Pakistan and became the quickest Indian spinner to 150 ODI wickets, and he was part of the team, led by Rohit Sharma and featuring Virat Kohli, that reached the 2023 World Cup final. He then won the T20 World Cup in 2024 and the Champions Trophy in 2025 with India. At the 2025 Asia Cup in the UAE he was the leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets in seven matches and was named Most Valuable Player as India won the title. In March 2026 he won his second T20 World Cup, played in India and Sri Lanka.
County Cricket and the Move to Lucknow
In 2026 Kuldeep added English county cricket to his record with a short-term Yorkshire contract. In June 2026, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants agreed a high-profile swap that sent Rishabh Pant back to Delhi and Kuldeep to Lucknow, in Uttar Pradesh, from the 2027 season. In November 2026 he returned to India’s ODI side for the fourth match of the series in New Zealand, alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Kuldeep Yadav Stats (International)
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Average | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 17 | 76 | 22.42 | 5/40 |
| ODI | 120 | 194 | 26.82 | 6/25 |
| T20I | 54 | 95 | 13.74 | 5/17 |
Figures as of 4 September 2026 (ESPNcricinfo, via Wikipedia). They change after every match.
Kuldeep Yadav Records and Achievements
- First Indian bowler to take two ODI hat-tricks (2017 v Australia, 2019 v West Indies)
- Third Indian to take an ODI hat-trick, after Chetan Sharma and Kapil Dev
- First left-arm wrist-spinner to take a five-wicket haul in a T20I (5/17 v England, 2018)
- Fastest Indian spinner to 100 ODI wickets (2020) and quickest to 150 (2023)
- Player of the tournament, Asia Cup 2023; Most Valuable Player, Asia Cup 2025
- Member of India’s winning teams at the T20 World Cup 2024, Champions Trophy 2025 and T20 World Cup 2026
Kuldeep Yadav Wife and Family
Kuldeep married his childhood friend Vanshika Chadha, who is also from Kanpur according to reports, on 14 March 2026 at Welcomhotel The Savoy in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. The couple had been engaged in a private ceremony in Lucknow on 4 June 2025, and the wedding was moved to March so he could focus on India’s T20 World Cup campaign. Cricketers including Yuzvendra Chahal, his “KulCha” spin partner, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Suresh Raina and Mohammad Kaif attended the celebrations, and the couple held a reception in Lucknow on 17 March.
Kuldeep Yadav Net Worth
Kuldeep Yadav has not disclosed his net worth, and there is no official figure. He earns from his BCCI central contract and match fees, his IPL contract (₹13.5 crore a season, the fee he carries to Lucknow Super Giants) and brand endorsements. Figures on celebrity-wealth websites are estimates and should be treated with caution.
Lesser-Known Facts About Kuldeep Yadav
- He wanted to be a fast bowler as a boy and only switched to wrist spin on his coach’s advice.
- Shane Warne is his bowling idol and the bowler he modelled his action on.
- He is a big FC Barcelona fan and started a football-focused YouTube channel in 2025.
- He and Yuzvendra Chahal were nicknamed “KulCha” when they bowled together for India.
- His trade to Lucknow Super Giants means he will play IPL home games in Uttar Pradesh, his home state.
Related Biographies
FAQs About Kuldeep Yadav
How old is Kuldeep Yadav?
Kuldeep Yadav was born on 14 December 1994 in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, so he is 31 and turns 32 on 14 December 2026.
Who is Kuldeep Yadav’s wife?
Kuldeep Yadav is married to his childhood friend Vanshika Chadha. They married at Welcomhotel The Savoy in Mussoorie on 14 March 2026.
Why is Kuldeep Yadav called a chinaman bowler?
Kuldeep Yadav bowls left-arm wrist spin, which is traditionally called chinaman bowling. It is rare in India, and he was the country’s first left-arm wrist-spinner in Test cricket.
How many hat-tricks has Kuldeep Yadav taken?
Kuldeep Yadav has taken two ODI hat-tricks, against Australia in 2017 and the West Indies in 2019. He was the first Indian bowler to take two.
Which IPL team does Kuldeep Yadav play for?
Kuldeep Yadav will play for Lucknow Super Giants from IPL 2027 after a trade with Delhi Capitals in June 2026. He played for Delhi from 2022 to 2026 and for Kolkata Knight Riders before that.
What is Kuldeep Yadav’s IPL salary?
Kuldeep Yadav moved to Lucknow Super Giants at his existing fee of ₹13.5 crore per season.
When did Kuldeep Yadav make his debut for India?
Kuldeep Yadav made his Test debut against Australia in Dharamshala on 25 March 2017 and took four wickets in the first innings. His ODI and T20I debuts came against the West Indies later in 2017.
Has Kuldeep Yadav won a World Cup?
Yes. Kuldeep Yadav won the T20 World Cup with India in 2024 and 2026 and the Champions Trophy in 2025.
Who is Kuldeep Yadav’s coach?
Kuldeep Yadav’s childhood coach in Kanpur was Kapil Pandey, who moved him from fast bowling to left-arm wrist spin.
Where is Kuldeep Yadav from?
Kuldeep Yadav was born in Unnao and grew up in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. He plays domestic cricket for Uttar Pradesh.
About This Biography
Written by: MyStarsBio Editorial Team. This profile was checked against the sources listed below. It covers Kuldeep Yadav’s cricket career and the personal news he has shared publicly.