Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif believes there won’t be a bigger mistake if Delhi Capitals trade Kuldeep Yadav to Lucknow Super Giants. It has been reported that LSG would trade Rishabh Pant to Delhi Capitals and they are all set to get Kuldeep Yadav in a trade deal.
Kuldeep didn’t have a great run in IPL 2026 as he scalped 10 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 38.10 and an economy rate of 10.29. However, Kaif reckons it would be unfair to judge Yadav’s performances in one season.
“If Delhi sends Kuldeep to LSG, there cannot be a bigger mistake than this. Forget this one year. You do not judge a player in one year. Ganguly is also there. He always says not to judge someone who is playing for ten years on the form of one season. If you panic at this time, which KKR did, Delhi picked Kuldeep and then see what he did except this one season. It will give you a clear picture,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
“If Delhi has done this trade, no one supports Kuldeep when he is going through a bad time. Neither did KKR, nor did the Indian team. In the Indian team as well, he is the first to be dropped. It is difficult to find a bowler with his skill. You need to back the player. Delhi did not lose because of Kuldeep. There were a lot of errors, and one of the factor was Kuldeep. If you out the blame on one player and put him out, it will be the biggest mistake if they let him go,” Mohammad Kaif added.
On the other hand, Kaif also shed light on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s controversy in the tri-series between A teams of India, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. Sooryavanshi had shoved Sri Lanka’s Vishen Halambage after a verbal battle. Kaif said even the likes of MS Dhoni, Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma have lost their cool on the ground.
“See, even Dhoni, Rahul Dravid, Kohli, Rohit, everyone has lost their cool at some point in their career. But they also learn. In that moment, you abuse and all that. Yes, you must not get physical. But I have seen a lot of banter and people telling a lot of bad things while sledging. Historically, you make mistakes in the heat of the moment. But he is just 15 right now and at the start of his career. There is no need to tell him anything. But his parents and senior players can just guide him that contact is not okay. But this is not new, everyone has done this. Even Dhoni had entered the field. These are all great players I am talking about. I will let Vaibhav go but would want the coaches to talk to him. He must not come in the limelight for the wrong reasons,” he expressed.
Sooryavanshi will be seen in the two-match T20I series against Ireland.
