Kuldeep Yadav is on the verge of a significant personal milestone as India prepare to face West Indies in the 2nd ODI of the three-match series at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, on September 30, 2026. The left-arm wrist-spinner needs just 2 more wickets to reach 200 ODI scalps, a landmark that would make him the 4th Indian spinner to achieve the feat.
Kuldeep set up this opportunity with a commanding performance in the series opener at Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, 2026, where he claimed
4 wickets for 40 runs. India won that match by 8 wickets, chasing down a target of 296 in 42 overs, and lead the three-match series 1-0.
Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls in the first ODI, while captain Shubman Gill contributed 110 off 108 deliveries as the pair guided India home with comfort.
What would Kuldeep's 200th ODI wicket mean historically?
Kuldeep currently has 198 ODI wickets from 122 matches at an average of 26.70. Among Indian spinners, only Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and Ravindra Jadeja have crossed the 200-wicket mark in ODIs. Kumble leads the group with 334 wickets, followed by Harbhajan with 265 and Jadeja with 232.
Kuldeep's entry into this list would place him alongside three of India's most celebrated spin bowlers in the 50-over format. The achievement is particularly notable given the consistency he has maintained across 122 matches to arrive at 198 wickets, reflecting a sustained wicket-taking rate over a long international career.
How did India set up their 1-0 series lead against West Indies?
India's victory in the first ODI on Sunday, September 27, was built on contributions from both departments. Kuldeep's 4 for 40 was central to restricting West Indies, who posted 296 before India overhauled the total in 42 overs with 8 wickets in hand.
Kohli's 139 not out off 88 balls and Gill's 110 off 108 deliveries formed a dominant partnership that sealed the result with ease. India now carry a 1-0 lead into the Guwahati fixture, with the third and final ODI of the series still to follow after that.
India full squad for IND vs WI ODI series 2026
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (wk), Naman Dhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Gurnoor Brar, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Auqib Nabi, Dhruv Jurel.
