Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke has rated Kuldeep Yadav as the best all-format spinner in the world. Yadav hasn’t received consistent chances across all formats for the team despite having decent numbers.
The wrist spinner bagged a solitary wicket in the opening Test match against Sri Lanka at Galle but he was not fit for selection in the second game. Saransh Jain went on to make his Test debut for India in Yadav’s absence. Surprisingly, Yadav didn’t play a single Test on the India’s tour of England in 2025
However, Yadav recently returned with impressive figures of 10-120 in the County Championship for Yorkshire against Essex to turn his form.
Michael Clarke said on Beyond23 Cricket podcast, “There are very few spinners playing all three formats. I think Kuldeep Yadav is the best all-format spinner in the world at the moment. He’s a very good short-form bowler. But he’s not getting enough opportunities. Though I think he’ll play for India against Australia.”
Yadav will be seen in action in the ODI series against the West Indies. He has 194 ODI wickets in 121 matches at an average of 27.05.
On the other hand, former England spinner Monty Panesar picked South African veteran spinner Keshav Maharaj as the best all-format spinner in the world.
“The best spinner for me is Keshav Maharaj, just by the way he is bowling at the moment. He has got it on a string and attacks and defends equally well,” said Panesar (via the aforementioned source).
The left-arm orthodox spinner has scalped 350 wickets for the Proteas in 173 matches across all formats.
Furthermore, he recently bagged 4-20 in 9.2 overs he bowled in the opening ODI against Australia, helping the hosts register a comprehensive 67-run win to a 1-0 lead.
