India left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav is set to make his maiden county cricket appearance after signing with Yorkshire for the remainder of the English domestic season. The 30-year-old will represent the county in both the One-Day Cup and the County Championship, marking his first stint in English county cricket.
Kuldeep’s stay with Yorkshire will be split into two phases around India’s scheduled two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in August, where he is expected to be part of the national squad.
Two-Part County Deal
Kuldeep will initially play five One-Day Cup matches between July 24 and August 2 before returning to India for the Sri Lanka Test series.
After completing his international commitments, he will rejoin Yorkshire in September for the club’s final three County Championship matches of the season.
The arrangement allows him to gain valuable experience in English conditions while remaining available for India’s international schedule.
Excited for New Challenge
Speaking after confirming the move, Kuldeep said he has always enjoyed bowling in English conditions and is looking forward to contributing to Yorkshire’s campaign.
He added that discussions with the county management made the decision an easy one and expressed his excitement about playing at Headingley for the first time.
Opportunity After Limited Game Time
The county stint comes after Kuldeep endured a frustrating white-ball tour of Ireland and England.
Despite being part of India’s squad, he did not feature in any of the 10 white-ball matches, including the ODI series against England.
His continued absence from the playing XI, even after the injury to spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar, surprised many former players and cricket experts.
The Yorkshire move now offers Kuldeep an opportunity to regain rhythm through regular match practice.
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Impressive International Record
Kuldeep remains one of India’s most successful spin bowlers across formats.
In Test cricket, he has taken 79 wickets in 18 matches at an excellent average of 22.35.
His ODI record is even more impressive, with 194 wickets in 121 matches, including a career-best performance of 6 for 25.
He has also been part of India’s squads that won two ICC T20 World Cup titles, underlining his importance in white-ball cricket.
Yorkshire Welcome Experienced Spinner
Yorkshire General Manager Gavin Hamilton described Kuldeep as an international-quality cricketer who will significantly strengthen the team’s bowling attack.
With England experiencing a particularly dry summer, the county expects spin bowling to play a major role during the closing stages of the season.
Hamilton believes Kuldeep’s left-arm wrist-spin and international experience will provide Yorkshire with an additional match-winning option.
Joins List of Indian Stars
Kuldeep will become the fifth Indian cricketer to represent Yorkshire.
The county has previously been home to Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Mayank Agarwal.
Ruturaj Gaikwad had also signed for Yorkshire in 2025 but was unable to join the club due to personal reasons.
Kuldeep is also the second active Indian spinner to feature in the County Championship this season after Manav Suthar, who is currently representing Warwickshire.
Debut Against Glamorgan
Kuldeep is expected to make his Yorkshire debut against Glamorgan in the One-Day Cup on July 24.
The stint provides an ideal opportunity for the experienced spinner to gain valuable red-ball and white-ball match practice ahead of India’s busy international calendar while adding another chapter to his already successful cricketing career.