Ranji Trophy 2018-19: I Was Looking To Bowl Fast - Umesh Yadav

On Thursday, the fast bowler of Indian National Cricket Team, who is trying very hard to break into the playing XI has once again put on a brilliant show in the Ranji Trophy 2018-19. Playing for Vidarbha Ranji Team, Umesh Yadav dismantled Kerala batting lineup to register his career-best figures in first-class cricket of 7/48.

Umesh sent opener Mohammad Azhar to open his account of seven wickets and then sent back Joseph in quick succession. Later, he sent five Kerala batsmen back to the hut in a trot. Apart from Vishnu Vinod, none of the Kerala batsmen had clue in tackling Vidarbha bowling attack.

The wicket was lively – Umesh Yadav

Speaking of the performance, the flamboyant cricketer quoted that the wicket that was offered by the officials has been brilliant. He feels that fast bowlers would hardly get such a lively wicket, especially, in the Indian conditions.

Umesh Yadav ran through the defence of Kerala batsmen with ease. His incredible spell saw as many as 8 batsmen walking back for a single digit score. He wants to repeat the show whenever such pitch is available for the team.

“The wicket was lively for a change. You don’t get this type of wickets in India. In the domestic circuit, this is one of the fastest pitches that I have encountered. It had carry and bounce. Even Mohali wicket, that I played on, wasn’t as fast. I won’t mind more wickets like this in India,” Yadav told reporters after the end of Day 1 in Wayanad.

“I was looking to bowl fast. I tried to hit the deck. Also, I was focused on bowling on one length, in one area. This is my career-best effort, so obviously I’m happy,” Yadav said. “It’s not impossible to bat on this wicket. Faiz Fazal played beautifully today. So, if a batsman is willing to spend time on this wicket he will get a good score,” Yadav said.

Recently, he took a nine-wicket match haul against Uttarakhand in the quarter-finals, for which he was awarded the man of the match. Now, he followed it up with a brilliant 7-wicket haul in an innings. Perhaps, Umesh wants to send a note for selectors ahead of ICC World Cup 2019.