We did not feel the need to rest: Umesh on Kohli's decision to enforce follow-on vs SA in Pune Test
Umesh Yadav, who made a superb comeback in the team in Pune, insists there is healthy competition among the fast bowlers in the Indian Test squad.
HIGHLIGHTS
Umesh Yadav, who made a superb comeback in the team in Pune, insists there is healthy competition among the fast bowlers in the Indian Test squad.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Umesh Yadav returned match figures of 6 for 59 in the Pune Test vs South Africa
- Umesh was playing his first Test for India since the match vs Australia in Perth in Dec. last year
- Umesh has only featured in 6 of India’s last 19 Test matches due to the competition among pacers in the squad
India fast bowler Umesh Yadav once again reminded the selectors and team management of his capabilities with the red ball with his outstanding performance in the second Test against South Africa.
Umesh, who was brought into the Test squad as a replacement for the injured Jasprit Bumrah for this series, bagged 6 wickets in the match - 3 in each innings - as India crushed South Africa by an innings and 137 runs in the Pune Test to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series on Sunday.
Umesh, who was playing his first Test since the match against Australia in Perth in December last year, has only featured in 6 of India's last 19 matches due to the competition he is facing from teammates Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who are the first-choice speedsters for India in the longest format.
But Umesh insists that the competition among the pacers is healthy and that everyone will gets equal chances to perform.
"This is part and parcel [of the game], it will keep happening as long as I play cricket. These situations will keep coming, and I know I have to be ready when I get my chance.
For that, it's important to stay positive, keep playing the game, and stay focused," Umesh said after the Pune Test. Umesh says that he makes sure to play domestic cricket whenever he is not picked for India to keep himself fit and ready for selection in the national team.
"I always make sure I keep getting match practice, whether it's Ranji Trophy or India A or anything else. These are the things that give me positivity, and my focus remains sharp because the more matches you play, the more match practice you have, which is very important, because as much as you may bowl in the nets, it's different when you play matches and know how you're supposed to bowl, what planning you need to do. "These things (selection) aren't in my hands. I can't say, 'no, I need to play every Test match'.
All the bowlers are good, all of them are doing well, and there's healthy competition. Whoever does well will keep playing. At some stage, each of us will get chances, and when that happens, I need to be ready, positive, and focused," Umesh said.
Umesh Yadav also spoke about India's decision to enforce the follow-on against the Proteas on Day 4 and revealed that all the bowlers were fresh and raring to have a go at the opposition again, despite having bowled 105.4 overs in South Africa's first innings.
"All bowlers said that we are ready if follow-on is enforced as we didn't feel the need to rest. The intent was to win, and not, 'let's bat a bit and stretch the game'," Umesh said.
