Indian pacer Umesh Yadav claims that he is fit to deliver his best at the International stage for at least 2-3 more years. The Delhi Capitals’ pacer is eager to help India in clinching the maiden World Test Championship title.
Indian fast bowler Umesh Yadav recently claimed that his physical fitness should allow him to deliver a searing pace in Indian colours for at least 2-3 years more. He said that he wants to steer India to the World Test Championship title by making a match-winning contribution in the finals slated to take place at Lords in June against the Kiwis.
Thus far, Umesh has featured in 48 Tests and is a big part of India’s current scheme of things in the longest format of the game. With Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami in the team alongside Umesh, the Indian pace attack looks extremely strong and experienced.
Despite delivering all that was asked from him in the last three years, Umesh might find it challenging to feature 11 in the WTC finals. In his absence, young pacers like Mohammad Siraj and Shardul Thakur have delivered incredible performances against tough oppositions.
I am 33 now and I know that I can mostly pull my body for another two or three years, and there will be some youngsters who will be arriving (to play). I feel this is just healthy, because it ultimately ends up benefiting the team,
Umesh told ESPNcricinfo.
He also added that on a tour of four or five Tests, the team could afford to play each of the pace bowling options in the squad for a couple of games. He claimed that this will also reduce their stress and workload and allow them to stay fit for a long time.
Being a genuine pacer who can bowl regularly at 140kmph, Umesh has been utilized in tough conditions at home more than overseas but he feels that his experience will help him to perform in all conditions.
So I haven’t played much overseas, and I haven’t had much experience of those kinds of wickets. But I’ve played a fair amount of Tests so far and learnt with experience how a particular surface will behave,
Umesh said.
Injuries have plagued Umesh from time to time. He said that he has maintained safe distance from injuries for quite some time now and would like to continue that way on his current fitness. Yadav, who has been in the Test squad for a few years now claimed that he is satisfied with his career.
He also added that after any major injury, one needs time to recover, and then one needs rehab, which is very time-consuming. The star pacer claimed that he hadn’t lost much time to injuries, which has allowed him to play for India for a long time.
Umesh, being a bowler who has been involved only in white-ball cricket for India in recent times, claimed that the World Test Championship is like a world cup for him, and he is eagerly waiting to deliver his absolute best in the tournament.
The match is in England, where swing and seam are important, so I definitely see myself in the playing XI for that game,
he added.
