Kuldeep Yadav Joins Yorkshire for Maiden County Stint Ahead of India’s Sri Lanka Tour

Kuldeep Yadav has signed for Yorkshire County Cricket Club as an overseas player for the remainder of the 2026 English domestic season. It will be the left-arm wrist-spinner’s first experience of county cricket as he looks to gain valuable match practice in English conditions.

The 31-year-old has agreed to a split eight-match deal that fits around India’s international schedule. He will first feature in five One-Day Cup matches between July 24 and August 2 before leaving to join the Indian squad for the two-Test series in Sri Lanka. Kuldeep is expected to make his Yorkshire debut on Friday, July 24, against Glamorgan at Neath.

After completing his international duties, Kuldeep will return to Headingley in September to play three of Yorkshire’s final four County Championship matches. The arrangement allows him to contribute in both white-ball and red-ball cricket during the closing stages of the English season.

The county move comes after a difficult summer for Kuldeep with the Indian team. He was left out of India’s T20I squad and did not play a single match during the ODI series against England, which India lost 2-1. With India resting him for the upcoming T20I series in Zimbabwe, Kuldeep used the break to secure regular game time in county cricket.

Yorkshire believe the Indian spinner can make a big impact in the second half of the season. General Manager of Cricket Gavin Hamilton said the hot and dry English summer is expected to bring spin into the game more than usual, making Kuldeep’s left-arm wrist-spin a valuable addition to the bowling attack.

Kuldeep’s signing also adds another chapter to the long association between Indian cricketers and Yorkshire. He will become only the fifth Indian player to represent the county, joining an exclusive list that includes Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Cheteshwar Pujara and Mayank Agarwal. Ruturaj Gaikwad had signed for Yorkshire in 2025 but was unable to play after withdrawing because of personal reasons.

Yorkshire will hope Kuldeep’s experience and wicket-taking ability help them finish the season strongly in both the One-Day Cup and the County Championship, while the spinner will aim to sharpen his skills before returning to India’s Test setup.