Some life moments sit quietly behind the scenes, even when the world watches you in stadiums packed with thousands. For Kuldeep Yadav, one of India’s most talented spinners, this month brings one of those personal milestones. While he continues to bowl for India in the ongoing Test series against South Africa, he has also reportedly requested a short leave from the BCCI to get married later in November.
According to a leading publication, Kuldeep Yadav has informed the Indian team management about his plans and they are currently deciding how many days of leave they can grant him. A BCCI source shared that his wedding is scheduled for the last week of November and the team will first assess when exactly they need him before confirming the duration of his break.
Kuldeep Yadav is part of the playing XI in the first Test underway at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, where he picked up one wicket during South Africa’s first innings, helping bowl them out for 159 on Day 1. The 30-year-old got engaged to his childhood friend earlier this year in June and the wedding was initially planned for a different date. However, it had to be postponed when the IPL was extended following a brief suspension triggered by rising tensions between India and Pakistan after the tragic Pahalgam att@ck.
While it is still unclear whether he will miss the second Test beginning November 22 in Guwahati, it does appear likely that he could sit out part of the series, which includes ODIs and T20Is as well. Kuldeep Yadav has had a busy schedule in recent months, he was part of India’s white-ball tour of Australia but was released early to play for India A in the second unofficial Test against South Africa A.
This request for leave also comes at a time when Kuldeep has been in and out of India’s Test squads. Under head coach Gautam Gambhir, the team has at times preferred players who offer batting depth, making Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion dependent on conditions and combinations.
As he balances international duties with one of the most meaningful days of his life, the coming weeks will mark both a professional challenge and a personal celebration for the spinner.
