Umesh Yadav Is Not Convincing As A White-Ball Bowler – Sunil Gavaskar
Feb 27, 2019 at 12:45 PM
The Indian pacer Umesh Yadav has failed to impress Sunil Gavaskar with his white-ball performance. The legendary Indian cricketer feels that India can do well with his replacement.
Umesh Yadav made his international debut in May 2010. Despite playing for a long time in the national team, he has failed to maintain his spot.
On last Sunday (24 February), Umesh Yadav once again disappointed with his bowling performance against Australia in the Visakhapatnam T20I. While he had to defend 14 runs in the last over, he failed to save that and India lost that game on the final ball of the match. The right-arm pacer conceded two boundaries in that over and also two required runs on the last ball of the game.
Unhappy Sunil Gavaskar feels that India should now search for a replacement of Umesh Yadav.
Sunil Gavaskar wrote for the TOI, “Umesh Yadav, despite being around for such a long time, is not convincing as a white-ball bowler, so India could well do with a replacement for him.”
India’s mistake
The host side India scored 126/7 in the first batting of Visakhapatnam T20I. Though the top-order batsmen KL Rahul (50) and Virat Kohli (24) performed well, the next batsmen failed to maintain that in the slow track. MS Dhoni (29*) was the only other batsmen to reach the double-digit knocks.
Talking about the Indian squad, Sunil Gavaskar feels that India underestimated Australia during the Visakhapatnam T20I. He pointed out that India made a mistake to play with only three recognised batsmen.
He wrote, “The first thing that every team must realise especially in the ultra- short format of the game is never to underestimate any opponent. India may have just done that at Vizag as they went in with just three recognised batsmen with the likes of [Rishabh] Pant, [MS] Dhoni, [Dinesh] Karthik and [Krunal] Pandya to push the score along.”
Later, Sunil Gavaskar pointed out the lack of fielding quality. While the two regular wicketkeepers were fielding in the outfield, the Indian legend feels that it always allowed the extra run opportunity for the Australians.
He added, “The fielding though with two wicketkeepers in the outfield meant that the extra run was always on for the Australians.”
India’s positive points
Sunil Gavaskar also pointed out India’s plus points in that T20I. While KL Rahul scored a brilliant half-century to return his form, the debutant Mayank Markande bowled impressively. The debutant leg-spinner Mayank Markande had the bowling figures of 4-0-31-0. Especially in the crucial 18th over, the young bowler conceded only five runs.
Sunil Gavaskar wrote, “The plus point for India is [KL] Rahul’s return to form and [Mayank] Markande showing good temperament under pressure.”
Also, Sunil Gavaskar advised the change in India’s playing XI for the upcoming Bengaluru T20I. He believes that Shikhar Dhawan should return to the opening spot and KL Rahul should bat at no.4. Meanwhile, the Indian legend has felt that Dinesh Karthik has lack of confidence since the last T20I in New Zealand.
India and Australia will play the second and final T20I of the series on Wednesday (27 February) at Bengaluru.