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Last updated on - September 19, 2025, 8:55 PM IST
By
Akshat Jain
In this collection of pictures we shall know about the Indian cricketer who will play against Team India in Asia Cup 2025. He idolises MS Dhoni and Kuldeep Yadav is his childhood friend. Let's dive in.
Oman batter Vinayak Shukla said the upcoming Asia Cup match against India will be both exciting and emotional for him. He is getting ready to play against his childhood friend Kuldeep Yadav in the Group A game on Friday, September 19, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Shukla, who is from Kanpur, used to play cricket alongside Kuldeep when they were young.
Vinayak Shukla played for PSE and Kuldeep was part of Rovers Club, but they often faced each other in local games. Those early days gave him many happy memories, and now those memories come alive again as they meet once more in an international match.
Vinayak Shukla said he feels a bit nervous playing against strong teams like India and Pakistan, but he is also thankful for the chance. For him, it's like a dream to compete against some of the best players in the world.
Vinayak Shukla also said that former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is his guide and a big inspiration. He mentioned that Dhoni’s way of winning games during his best years was one of a kind. Vinayak also said he wishes to meet him one day.
"I've played with Kuldeep Yadav back in India, so I hope we'll meet soon. It's a great opportunity for me and my team to play against sides like Pakistan and India. We grew up watching these players on TV all the time. I'm pretty nervous, but excited as well," Shukla told The Times of India (TOI) in an interview.
"I remember playing matches with Kuldeep bhai in Kanpur. He was with Rovers Club and I played for PSE. We had many friendly games together. Once he bowled to me and I hit him for four, and he said, 'Oh, pretty good shot!' There are some fond memories, and I'll always cherish those," Shukla said.
Vinayak Shukla's journey from Kanpur to playing international cricket has been unusual. The Oman batsman, who will play in the upcoming Asia Cup, shared the tough decisions he had to take to follow his dream of playing cricket at a high level.
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