Not Easy to Keep Rhythm When You're In and Out of the Team - Umesh Yadav

India’s fast bowler Umesh Yadav believes it is not easy to keep rhythm when you are not playing on a regular basis. Umesh Yadav had received his chance when he was included in the Perth Test match against Australia. India went with all-out pace attack and Yadav was included in the final XI. However, the Vidarbha fast bowler could not grab his chance as he scalped only two wickets in that game, which India lost by 146 runs.

Subsequently, Umesh Yadav was dropped from the last XI as he failed to live up to the expectations. In fact, Umesh Yadav was the stand-out performer for the Indian team in the two-match Test series against the Windies. He had also scalped a 10-wicket haul against the Windies.

Yadav played a solitary Test match.

Meanwhile, India’s premier ODI pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar also made a similar statement when he said not playing regularly had an impact on his impetus.

“Whatever cricket I have played so far and [whatever cricket] I have been playing of late, I would say there have been plenty of ups and downs. Sometimes, you get a few games on the run and then you have to wait for your chance, so a bowler’s rhythm is affected a little bit. Bowling in the nets is different than playing a match. Usually, when I play matches continuously, I feel the body responds well and I get into a rhythm. But when it doesn’t happen, like [when] you suit out a whole tour and then get a one-off match, it becomes difficult,” Umesh Yadav said while talking to Sportstar.

Pace Battery has everything in the arsenal.

Umesh Yadav believes he deserved more opportunities than what he received. India’s pace battery of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah were the first choice pacers. Thus, Yadav had to warm the benches. Furthermore, Bhuvneshwar Kumar didn’t get even one opportunity in the Test series.

“Definitely, I had gone to Australia with the same thought that I will get [many] more opportunities than I did but when I didn’t get a chance after not doing so well in the second match, I had to come back and wait for my chance. Let’s see, one bad match doesn’t mean life is over. It’s given me time to think what I should do to and work on my mistakes to come back stronger”.

On the other hand, Umesh Yadav believes this is the best pace battery in India. The fast bowler said the pacers have got all types of variations in their armory which makes them lethal in all the conditions.

Best pace attack.

“I am sure it’s the best pace attack in India. You have pace, swing and even someone who just zips the ball past a batsman irrespective of the conditions. Now you have a pace unit that the oppositions mull over for months before a series.  The opposition bowlers also know if you bowl too many short ones, they will also get it back. You look at [Jasprit] Bumrah, Ishant [Sharma], [Mohammed] Shami — they are amazing. It’s not easy to play them individually. And the world knows that it’s not just pace but all of us have matured after having played in various conditions over the years. That’s a great benefit. All the bowlers know that the bowling attack is not just strong but a matured lot as well”.

Umesh Yadav has got the speed under his belt. However, he can veer off the track in his line and length. Thus, Yadav needs to be more consistent in his bowling to be a regular feature in the team.