One big reason why India are doing well in Test cricket is the fact that along with spinner, the pacers too have been bowling really well for India. Whether it is Ishant Sharma or Mohammad Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Umesh Yadav, each one of them has been on top of their game in the last few matches for India.
Umesh Yadav, while speaking to the press, said that Virat Kohli has played a huge role in making him take wickets in Test matches. He said:
“Virat is a bowler’s captain. He is someone who would throw the ball at you and tell you to set your own field. He asks me what my plan is or whether I need a particular fielder at a position. He backs your instinct and plans. Only if the plan doesn’t work, he would come up and tell that let’s try this. For him the bowler gets to execute Plan A and if it doesn’t click, then Plan B.”
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Working on in-swingers
Umesh also said that he is working very hard on developing the inswingers for Australians. He said:
“My stock delivery has always been the conventional outswingers at 140 kmp plus speed. But as I have been working hard to develop the in-swinger all these years, it’s now finally coming off well which I realise when it releases from my hand.”
On the spell bowled to Shakib Al Hasan
Bangladesh batsman Shakib Al Hasan had said that Umesh’s spell of bowling in the first innings of the one-off Test was the best he had played so far in his career. On being asked to give his views on the same, Umesh first burst into a laughter and then said:
“Yes, I would have termed it a near perfect spell had I got wickets, which unfortunately, I didn’t. But if you look at that spell, I was beating Shakib with away going deliveries for the left-hander, which is an inswinger. The pace was good, I hit the right length and I knew Shakib was rattled.”
Which was his best spell of bowling in his own opinion?
Umesh has been playing for India for a long time but the best spell he bowled, according to him, was the one against South Africa in Delhi in 2015.
“In my opinion, my spell against South Africa in Delhi back in 2015 was a touch better. The quality of batsmen were better and they were defending really well which made it more difficult.”
What changes have Umesh Yadav brought in his bowling?
There is not an iota of doubt that Umesh has worked really hard on his bowling and it can be easily seen in the way he is bowling these days. On being asked what he has changed in his bowling, he said:
“So what exactly did change for me? I believe my experience of using the crease came in handy. Our coach Anil Kumble advised that if I had to take the ball away from the left-hander with fuller deliveries, I need to come wide off the crease and push it through. The wider you go, the better angles you can create for a left-hander, provided you hit the right length.”
“Similarly, when I am bowling to right-handers, I would come closer to the stumps and try to hit a channel where I can make them play more deliveries.”
Plans for David Warner
David Warner is one big batsman in Australian line-up and Umesh Yadav has some plans for him.
“Against Warner in Australia, you can hit back of the length but here I would like to bowl him a bit fuller. Even in India, you cannot bowl too full as Warner also drives well. So maybe a touch fuller than three-quarter. Hope I can get my length right straightaway.”
