14 March,2026 01:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mohammad Kaif (Pic: File Pic)
Former Team India cricketer Mohammad Kaif reached Dehradun on Saturday to attend the wedding of star spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who will be tying the knot with his fiancée, Vanshika.
Speaking outside the airport, Kaif congratulated the spinner. "Many congratulations to him. Kuldeep hails from our Kanpur. It's going to be great fun," he said.
He then heaped praise on Team India, which clinched back-to-back T20 World Cup titles.
"The Indian team is doing exceptionally well. They've won back-to-back World Cups," said Kaif.
Earlier, according to reports, Kuldeep and Vanshika got engaged in June last year in a private ceremony in Lucknow, which was attended by only close family members.
The news about their wedding comes shortly after Team India's dominance in the recently concluded global showpiece. The "Men in Blue" defeated New Zealand by 96 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Reflecting on the victory, the spinner expressed happiness and stated that when you participate in an ICC event, the aim is always to win the title.
"It is an important victory. The tournament went very well for us, and we have been preparing for this for a long time. This is what you play cricket for. Every time you participate in an ICC tournament, you want to win the trophy. I congratulate the team and also thank the fans for supporting us," he said.
Batting first in the final, the "Men in Blue" posted a mammoth total of 256 runs for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs. Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan smashed half-centuries. Facing 46 balls, Samson scored 89 runs with the help of five boundaries and eight maximums. Abhishek also garnered 52 runs in 21 balls, including six boundaries and three maximums. Ishan smashed 54 runs off 25 deliveries, laced with four boundaries and four maximums. Later, burly all-rounder Shivam Dube also played a fiery cameo of an unbeaten 26 runs in just eight deliveries.
Chasing a target of 256, New Zealand was bowled out for 159 runs in 19 overs. Team India's lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah returned with figures of four for 15 in four overs. Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Abhishek also chipped in with one wicket each.
(With ANI Inputs)
