Santosh Yadav is a genuine spin-bowling all-rounder. As a left-arm orthodox bowler, he offers control and turn, and has shown he can contain in the middle overs — his NPL 2025 economy rate of 6.44 across eight matches reflects a disciplined, containing role within Kathmandu Gorkhas' bowling attack.

With the bat, he is a left-handed lower-order hitter with a clear six-hitting instinct: in the 2025 NPL season, he struck four sixes but not a single four across his five innings, a pattern that suggests a batter who looks to clear the boundary rather than work the ball into gaps. His breakout really came in the 2026 Prime Minister Cup National Cricket Tournament, where he picked up 21 wickets and scored 265 runs — a performance strong enough by itself to force a national call-up. He made his senior international debut as an impact bowling option rather than an automatic pick, coming into Nepal's XI as a direct replacement for Basir Ahmad in the second T20I against the UAE in April 2026.

Santosh Yadav came through Nepal's age-group system, representing Nepal Under-16s and Under-19s. Detailed statistics from that age-group career are not compiled in one public source.

Santosh Yadav has featured with several domestic and club sides over his career, including Biratnagar Warriors, Nepal Green, and Lumbini Province, alongside his NPL franchise, Kathmandu Gorkhas. His breakthrough domestic performance came in the 2026 Prime Minister Cup National Cricket Tournament, where he took 21 wickets and scored 265 runs — the campaign that earned him his first national squad call-up.

Santosh Yadav made his T20I debut for Nepal on April 21, 2026, against the United Arab Emirates at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur — the second and deciding match of a two-match series. He was drafted into the XI as one of four changes, replacing Basir Ahmad, after his strong Prime Minister Cup form earned him a maiden national call-up. In his debut, he bowled one over for 11 runs and was dismissed for 1 off 4 balls with the bat. Nepal won the match by eight wickets, with the series finishing drawn 1-1. As of this profile's publication, this is his only recorded senior international appearance.

Santosh Yadav's main franchise involvement is with Kathmandu Gorkhas in the Nepal Premier League, where he has played since the NPL Season 2 (2025) mini-auction.

Kathmandu Gorkhas signed Santosh Yadav for Rs 10 lakh (1 million Nepali rupees) at the NPL Season 2 (2025) mini-auction, one of several new faces the franchise brought in that year alongside Mohammad Aadil Alam, Aakash Tripathi, Uttam Rangu Thapa Magar, and Tul Bahadur Thapa.

Across the 2025 NPL season, Yadav played a genuine all-round role for Kathmandu Gorkhas: Batting — 5 matches, 76 runs, highest score 26, average 15.20, strike rate 122.58, 0 fours, 4 sixes. Bowling — 8 matches, 7 wickets, best figures 2/17, economy 6.44, average 16.14. His best all-round match of the season came against Lumbini Lions on December 10, 2025, when he scored 23 off 17 balls and took 2/17 from two overs. Kathmandu Gorkhas were eventually eliminated at the Eliminator stage of that tournament.

Ahead of the NPL Season 3 (2026) mini-auction, Kathmandu Gorkhas confirmed they had retained Santosh Yadav as part of their core group, alongside Karan KC (marquee), Bhim Sharki, Mohammad Aadil Alam, Rashid Khan, and Shahab Alam — meaning he was not sent back into the open auction pool.

Santosh Yadav has not held a captaincy role at international, franchise, or domestic level based on currently available records. No captaincy statistics apply to his profile.

November 17, 2006 — Born in Nepal.

— Represented Nepal Under-16s and Under-19s.

2025 — Signed by Kathmandu Gorkhas for Rs 10 lakh at the NPL Season 2 mini-auction.

November–December 2025 — Played NPL Season 2 for Kathmandu Gorkhas (5 batting, 8 bowling appearances).

December 10, 2025 — Best all-round NPL performance: 23 (17) and 2/17 vs Lumbini Lions.

2026 — Breakout Prime Minister Cup campaign: 21 wickets, 265 runs.

April 21, 2026 — T20I debut vs United Arab Emirates at Kirtipur.

June–July 2026 — Retained by Kathmandu Gorkhas ahead of NPL Season 3.