Kuldeep Yadav splits time between cricket and football fandom in 2026

Kuldeep Yadav, India's star spinner, balances cricket success with deep football passion, revealing club favorites and tactical insights.

World-class bowler's credentials As one of the top white-ball bowlers globally, he has more than 350 wickets across all formats for the national team. At 31, he remains a crucial part of India's dominant T20 squad and has won the World Cup twice. His value was highlighted when Delhi Capitals paid Rs 13.25 crore (around US$1.4 million) to retain him for this season, making him one of the most costly spinners in IPL history. ## Football obsession surpasses cricket viewing While he rarely watches Test cricket or even his own bowling clips, football brings him immense joy. He explains that he prefers watching the best teams in action, focusing on matches between mid-table and lower-table sides in the Premier League. Teams like Fulham, Brighton, and Nottingham Forest catch his eye regularly. His loyalty extends to club football, with Liverpool holding a special place in his heart and Barcelona being his ultimate favorite. ## Neymar's magic fuels lifelong love for Barcelona His adoration for Barcelona began during Pep Guardiola's era, but it deepened when Neymar joined the club in 2013. Yadav was tuning in from the Delhi Capitals camp when he shared his thoughts on Neymar's recent performance for Brazilian club Santos in the Copa Sudamericana. "He's been playing really well, you watch him play. I watch every game, yesterday he played and he was unbelievable. He's someone who has been God-gifted, so I love to watch him play. He'll be there in the World Cup for sure," he remarked. He also drew parallels between cricket legends and football icons, stating, "In cricket also, there's only one Sachin Tendulkar. In football also, there has been only one Messi, Maradona, Pele. There's one Neymar." ## Juggling IPL schedules with Champions League nights He manages to keep up with UEFA Champions League matches despite the time difference by leveraging the IPL's night-match schedule. The two-month tournament mostly features evening fixtures with late finishes, pushing training sessions to later hours. This timing allows him to catch Champions League games that start post-midnight in India. His routine changes during international duty, where bedtimes become less flexible. ## YouTube channel born from Liverpool's young talent His passion for football has grown into active participation, including launching a YouTube channel last August partly inspired by Liverpool's teenage sensation Rio Ngumoha. "The Liverpool versus Newcastle game [where Ngumoha scored a late winner] was unbelievable and I just wanted to say something about the game," he recalled. He described the moment, saying, "I was having breakfast, there's a lot of background noise, a lot of voices. But I just wanted to record and post it on YouTube." ## Brilliant tactical debate with Ruben Amorim During India's tour of England last summer, he met former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim and engaged in a detailed discussion about football tactics. "I said, 'When you play a back three, what are you thinking about the midfield?,'" Yadav shared. "He said, 'What are you thinking?' I said, 'You know what, If I have to say one thing, I'd tell you to sign Baleba because you need a holding midfielder in your team because there's no one.' Amorim was surprised but admitted the Brighton midfielder was costly to sign. He also mentioned interacting with Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro that day and expressed his eagerness to meet Eberechi Eze next. ## Missed chance to meet Eberechi Eze He regrets missing a chance to meet Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze last summer when the Indian team was training near the club's facility. While some teammates met Eze, he was occupied with a training session. Though he admires Eze's skills, he isn't a fan of Arsenal's playing style under Mikel Arteta. "I think [Mikel Arteta] has a bit of a conservative approach. He has been [that way] over the years," he opined. "Obviously, consistency matters a lot. He has been good with that, but ultimately people want to watch football, how you play football, and they want to enjoy Arsenal, not to go in that shell. Okay, they're not going to concede, but they're not going to score as well." ## Defining attacking philosophy in cricket His approach to cricket mirrors his football views, emphasizing entertainment and attacking play. He believes in taking risks rather than playing defensively to restrict runs, a philosophy that defines his bowling style. Delhi Capitals will rely on his wicket-taking ability to secure their first IPL title this year. After the season concludes, he will join India's home series against Afghanistan before heading to England for a white-ball tour in July. ## Future plans to contribute to Indian football Even after retiring from cricket, he aims to support football in India, leveraging his deep knowledge of the game. "I feel like because I have good knowledge about the game and I still feel there's a lot to gain from it, so I might think about doing something for football in India," he stated. "Because in India we have talent, but we don't have that space and infrastructure. Maybe in the next couple of years, you'll see an academy coming up."