Kuldeep Yadav wins Impact Player award after India's 2-1 ODI series win vs West Indies
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Kuldeep Yadav, India's left-arm wrist-spinner, was named Impact Player of the Series following India's 2-1 ODI series victory over the West Indies, capping a standout campaign in which he finished as the series' leading wicket-taker and crossed a landmark individual milestone.
Dominant with the Ball
Kuldeep claimed seven wickets across the three-match series, including a four-wicket haul in Thiruvananthapuram, to finish atop the wicket-takers' chart. The performances also carried a historic footnote: Kuldeep became the fastest Indian spinner to reach 200 wickets in men's ODI cricket — a milestone that underlines his rapid rise as one of India's most potent limited-overs bowlers.
What the Team Management Said
Team physiotherapist Yogesh Parmar presented the award, heaping praise on Kuldeep for his consistency and commitment. 'First of all, congratulations for winning the series. The award goes to someone who has consistently performed throughout the series. He has also got 200 wickets in ODI format. So that's another achievement and he is also the highest wicket taker for this series,' Parmar said in a video posted on the BCCI's official social media accounts. 'He has always stood up and performed exceptionally well and he has always put his body on the line and this award goes to Kuldeep Yadav,' he added.
Kuldeep Credits Senior Batters and Pre-Series Camp
Accepting the honour, Kuldeep was generous in crediting his batting colleagues for setting up the victories. He specifically named captain Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul, and Rohit Sharma for their contributions with the bat. He also pointed to a preparatory camp in Thiruvananthapuram — held before the series began — as the key to finding his rhythm. 'Before the start of the series, we had a couple of sessions in Trivandrum. Then I felt like I was in a very, very good rhythm. I just wanted to continue that rhythm into the games as well and luckily, it went really well. So this is very special,' Kuldeep said.
What's Next for Kuldeep and India
Kuldeep's focus now shifts to the T20I series against the same opponents, with the opener scheduled in Lucknow on 7 October. The two sides are then set to face each other in four more T20Is in Ranchi, Indore, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru on 9, 11, 14, and 17 October respectively. With momentum firmly on his side, Kuldeep will be expected to carry his form into the shortest format.