Kuldeep Yadav Plays Local Cricket Match Amidst IPL 2026, BCCI Uninformed?
Kuldeep Yadav Sparks Controversy with Local Cricket Match Appearance
Kuldeep Yadav has found himself in a shocking controversy amidst the ongoing IPL 2026 after a video of him playing a local cricket match in Kanpur went viral on social media. The clip surprised many because the IPL season is still going on, and the Delhi Capitals still have one league game left to play.
As soon as the video went viral online, many were confused about whether the Delhi Capitals had already released Kuldeep from the squad or if the BCCI knew about his appearance in the local match. The timing of the video made the entire situation even more shocking.
The Viral Video
In the viral video, Kuldeep Yadav was seen bowling in a club match at the PAC Cricket Ground in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The spinner’s involvement in the club match during the ongoing IPL 2026 became a huge talking point among fans because players usually stay with their teams until the season officially ends.
Delhi Capitals are already out of the IPL 2026 playoff race and currently sit eighth on the points table with 12 points from 13 matches. Their final league match is against the Kolkata Knight Riders on May 24 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. But before that important game, Kuldeep returned home.
This left many shocked, with fans questioning whether Kuldeep was released by the Delhi Capitals or whether the BCCI allowed the wrist-spinner to take part in the local match during the ongoing season, as he was not part of the franchise’s last two matches.
Why is Kuldeep Yadav playing random club match during the IPL? Delhi Capitals released him from squad? pic.twitter.com/XAPMZ1YWmf
Kuldeep Yadav’s Tough IPL 2026 Season
The ongoing IPL 2026 season has been really tough for Kuldeep. The left-arm spinner failed to live up to the expectations, taking only seven wickets and also leaking runs at more than 10 runs per over in the 11 games that he played this season for the Capitals.
One of the biggest problems for Kuldeep this season was his long wicketless run. He went through six straight matches without taking a wicket, which put extra pressure on the Delhi Capitals’ bowling attack. Things became worse for Kuldeep at Arun Jaitley Stadium, where batters attacked him aggressively.
The wrist spinner struggled badly against teams like Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, and Kolkata Knight Riders, where he ended up conceding too many runs without making any impact. Because of his poor form, Kuldeep was dropped from the playing XI for DC’s last two matches against Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals.
Indian Selectors Show Trust in Kuldeep
Despite his IPL 2026 horror, the Indian selectors continued to show trust in Kuldeep as the spinner was picked for both a one-off Test and a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan at home.
Kuldeep Yadav recently shared some old pictures from his sangeet ceremony that took place in March. In the photos, Kuldeep was seen wearing a stylish black sherwani with a colorful stole, while his wife, Vanshika, looked beautiful in a shiny blue dress.
A post shared by Kuldeep yadav 🇮🇳 (@kuldeep_18)
