Umesh Yadav Expresses Frustration Over Lesser Game Time

India fast-bowler Umesh Yadav has expressed his displeasure over the fewer number of matches he has played in recent months in order abide by the team’s workload management rule. The right-arm pacer has fallen down the pecking order in limited-overs format and is currently not a part of the ODI and T20I squads.

He played his last ODI in October 2018 when India hosted West Indies while his last T20I appearance came during the home T20I series against Australia in February last year. India recently announced the T20I squad for the tour of New Zealand and Umesh Yadav could not make it to the team. He is also likely to miss out from the ODI team which will be announced on January 19.

As far as Test is concerned, he has been a regular member of the squad. However, he only gets a chance in the playing when when one of the likes of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami or Jasprit Bumrah gets injured. Consequently, he has not managed to play as many games as he would have wanted in the last couple of years and the frustration is now creeping in.

Speaking to media on the eve of the Ranji Trophy game between Delhi and Vidarbha, Umesh Yadav said that he did get an offer from Gloucestershire, but had to stay away keeping the workload guidelines in mind. He also expressed his frustration over the less number of games he has played in the last two years.

“I got a county offer last season (from Gloucestershire). They wanted me to play seven games, but the BCCI workload management policy doesn’t allow me to play more than two or three games. So, the deal didn’t work out. Also I had some niggles to take care of after IPL,” he revealed.

“Workload management is a balance that you strike when you are constantly playing matches. In my case, it’s been the opposite. I have played lesser and lesser in the past two years (2018 and 2019). So there hasn’t even been optimum workload for me.

“I am 31 and the next four to five years are very important. If you look at my record, I played four Tests last year (2019) and before that another four in 2018. In white ball, I played only one game last year.

“At this age, the more I bowl, the better I will get. That’s why I am playing five first-class (one vs Saurashtra after this game) to have some more workload,” he explained.

With his chances of making it to the T20I or ODI side very slim, Umesh Yadav also said that he doesn’t have much to do after the New Zealand tour as the team will focus on preparing for the T20 World Cup this year.

“So, in a World T20 year, after New Zealand tour, I have only IPL left and then no cricket. If I am not selected for white-ball cricket, I have precious little to do then,” he said.