Even if Kuldeep Yadav had an underwhelming IPL 2026 season, he still managed to sign off in style with a match-winning performance against Kolkata Knight Riders. The left-arm spinner came out with a superb spell of 3/29, playing a crucial role in Delhi Capitals’s convincing 40-run victory and helping the team finish a disappointing campaign with a much-needed positive result. Kuldeep reflected after the match that the season had not gone according to plan for him personally as he struggled to consistently find his rhythm throughout the tournament.
"To be very honest, I wasn't happy before this match, because we wanted, as a team, to have a great season, but we couldn't finish in that top four slot. Personally, I thought I didn't have a great season, to be very honest. I was expecting more from myself, but I couldn't deliver this season," Kuldeep said at the post-match presentation.
Kuldeep said that following DC’s previous game against Rajasthan Royals, he travelled back to his hometown to spend time working closely with his childhood coach. The little break away from the IPL proved to be a game-changer for Yadav as he managed to find his rhythm.
"After the last game, I went back home, and I worked with my coach on what things I need to work on, and I played one game over there. Just the small, small things which you forget very quickly, especially in white ball. To go there and work on those sort of things, and to come back here and bowl like that, it was lovely to see."
Kuldeep also highlighted the challenges that hindered his rhythm during the course of the tournament.
"I thought I was bowling a bit more open chest, and sometimes you're not using your full body. I just pushed the ball, and that's where the T20 batters are extremely strong to hit deep down the ground and play back foot. Once you start using more of your body and try to spin the ball harder, and ultimately you see the result, you get the dip and the drift, and obviously you can vary the pace as well. So it was lovely to see. I think it was a lovely game for me, because coming back from the last game," he said.