During India’s dream home season of 2016/17, pacer Umesh Yadav played a key role in team’s successful run. Throughout the season, Yadav consistently clocked in decent speeds and his fitness was a top notch. With the likes of Mohammad Shami, Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar not being regular members of the side, it was Yadav’s duty to ensure that he made the new ball count at all odds.
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Be it his spells at Mohali against England or against Australia at Dharamshala, Yadav’s ability to pick the crucial wickets stood out from his peers. With India set to commence their tour of Sri Lanka with a Test in Galle, the onus will once again be on Yadav to leave an impression.
In Galle, the Pacer opened up in an interview and spoke about the improvement he witnessed in his own self.
“Every year you learn,” said Yadav. “I have worked so much in the past year on areas that needed work and on negatives. I have been more focused and realised more consistency will make me better. I have realised as a fast bowler you need to know what your aim is when running into bowl. I have realised fitness and thinking is crucial to success. The Umesh Yadav of old was quiet and reserved who worried, what if I get dropped. But when I got the chances I saw the improvement.”
Treating the upcoming assignment as an important series, he said,
“For me, Sri Lanka is as important as any other series. I know in Tests, mindset and body are very important. So long as that is in place I will enjoy the tour more. I don’t know about 3-0 but the way we are playing we will try to play good cricket and if we do well that can happen as well. We are confident that the way we started, this season will begin in the same way.”
Stressing on the need to be smart as a pacer in Asia, Umesh said,
“When you play in Asia you know you will not get conducive wickets and it’s hot and humid as well. On slow wickets, one has to think. Thinking is crucial to getting wickets on slow tracks with the old ball. I think the captain and team support also plays a role. When a fast bowler runs in on a flat track, you can run in fast all day but if you are not smart you are wasting energy. This is where I have improved on how to play mind games and bluff the opposition.”
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