'Very happy for him' - Yuzvendra Chahal opines on bond with Kuldeep Yadav

Indian leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has expressed his happiness over Kuldeep Yadav’s success in international cricket, calling him the best wrist spinner in the world at present. Chahal, who once formed a strong spin duo with Kuldeep, also revealed that he is not overly concerned about making a return to the Indian team as it is out of his control.

Chahal and Kuldeep, popularly known as the ‘Kul-Cha’ duo, were India’s go-to spin pair in limited-overs cricket for several years. Their chemistry on the field helped the Men in Blue win crucial matches as they complemented each other. While Kuldeep continues to be a regular member in the ODI setup, Chahal last played for the national side in August 2023. Meanwhile, ahead of the IPL 2025 Chahal spoke about India's return and heaped huge praises for Kuldeep.

“I don’t think about what is not in my hands. Right now, he (Kuldeep) is the No.1 wrist spinner in the world. It shows in the way he is bowling both in IPL and international cricket,” Chahal said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Also Read: Yuzvendra Chahal set to join Northamptonshire county following IPL 2025

I have loved bowling with Kuldeep: Yuzvendra Chahal

The 34-year-old also mentioned about his camaraderie with the chinaman, and the trust they shared on and off the field which helped them get constant success. 

“I have loved bowling with Kuldeep. We enjoy a great bonding, on and off the field, it shows. It was fun bowling with him because we have a similar approach to bowling. Both of us love to attack. It was also partnership bowling. When one of us would go for runs, the other would make it tighter from the other end. We always trusted each other,” he added.

In the 37 ODIs they played together, they collectively picked up 130 wickets, becoming one of the most effective match-winning pairs for India. However, in recent years, the team management has relied more on Kuldeep, with Chahal getting limited opportunities.

The Haryana spinner was part of India's T20 World Cup-winning squad in 2024 but did not feature in any match, with the team preferring other spinners. On the other hand, Kuldeep played a huge role in India’s T20 World Cup and recent Champions Trophy 2025 triumphs.

The duo will next be seen playing in IPL 2025. Chahal will represent Punjab Kings this season after being acquired for a whopping INR 18 crore. On the other hand, Delhi Capitals retained Kuldeep for INR 13.25 crore.