Leeds, September 14, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav has promised to return to the County Championship after producing a career-best 10-wicket match haul to guide Yorkshire to an innings-and-106-run victory over Essex at Headingley.
Kuldeep claimed 4/70 in the first innings before returning figures of 6/50 in the second, completing his maiden 10-wicket haul in first-class cricket. His match figures of 10/120 also earned him the County Championship Player of the Round award and helped Yorkshire secure their Division One status with the victory inside three days.
Kuldeep, who joined Yorkshire on a short-term contract in July, said the achievement was particularly special despite Headingley offering conditions different from those in which he grew up playing.
“When I was about to get the sixth one, I thought, ‘Give me one more, let me complete the ten-wicket haul!’ It’s not the home conditions that I grew up playing in, but this is the ultimate home now, so playing here and getting a ten-for, it’s been so good,” he said.
The spinner adapted his bowling to a surface that offered some assistance, using footmarks outside the stumps to create angles and pressure on the Essex batters.
“In the second innings I was trying to use the footmarks to bring the ball from outside to the stumps. That was the plan, and using more angles to make the batters uncomfortable,” he explained.
Yorkshire head coach Anthony McGrath praised Kuldeep’s control and tactical awareness, particularly his ability to vary his approach from over and around the wicket.
Kuldeep’s initial stint with Yorkshire was interrupted by his involvement in India’s squad for the 1-0 Test series victory in Sri Lanka. He later featured in Yorkshire’s defeat to Surrey at The Oval before making a decisive impact against Essex.
“It’s nice to be here, everyone is so kind and very humble, and they’ve been very welcoming. If you look at our team, we’ve got lovely lads, lovely young talent in the squad, so to play alongside them feels so good. I’ll definitely come back, that’s a promise,” Kuldeep said.
McGrath indicated Yorkshire would be keen to secure his services again, while off-spinner Dom Bess praised Kuldeep’s enthusiasm for the craft of spin bowling. Bess took five wickets in the match and shared an 83-run eighth-wicket partnership with Kuldeep in Yorkshire’s first innings.
“He comes here to play and absolutely loves it. We talk a lot of spin, and we have a great relationship,” Bess said.
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