Published: Oct 25, 2016, 07:31 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 26, 2016, 09:06 AM (IST)
India’s struggle in finding a genuine pace bowler on a consistent basis has been a problem without much of a solution. It’s not for the lack of ability but it is certainly about sustainability. With India retaining the same one-day squad for the remaining two matches against New Zealand, Umesh Yadav will undoubtedly lead the pace attack once again and has a golden opportunity to be grabbed. The lanky bowler has done well in the series so far but leaked runs in the previous encounter. His inclusion in the side will be in dilemma when India avail the service of Mohammed Shami and with Jasprit Bumrah been evolving with every game as India’s best death bowler, the option of third bowler will come down between Umesh and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. With Bhuvneshwar doing well in the recently concluded Kolkata Test and have bowled magnificently in this year’s edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the odds are with him. However, Umesh’s brilliance combined with some errors has been fruitful so far in the series but leaked too many runs in the previous contest. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs New Zealand, 4th ODI at Ranchi
Umesh’s career over the years has swung between frequent sparks of brilliance and unpredictable, inconsistent bowling. He has lacked consistency, which also deprived him of achieving prolific dividends. Yadav is a skilful bowler, he steams in hard and has the ability to clock a speed of above 140 kph throughout the day. He is well equipped to move the ball both the ways at a menacing speed and delivers lethal bouncers, which takes the batsman by surprise. On the contrary, he also possesses the rare ability to reverse swing the ball. But things that are lacking are control and the knack of doing so on a consistent basis. Still, selectors have persisted with him as and given him many chances as he has the ability to be one of the best bowlers in world cricket. And now it’s high time, Yadav justifies the repository of selector’s faith just at the right time. Though the contemporary cricketers are playing a lot of cricket as compared to the ones played a decade back but Umesh just can’t hide under this as he has not shown enough signs of improvement in the recent times.
Umesh has been in the good books of many former and current cricketers and has earned accolades from them. Former Pakistan bowler Wasim Akram who worked with Umesh also rates him very highly for his easy action and run-up and also feels that he has the making to become a great bowler. Akram was once quoted in a report from theringsideview.com saying, “I like Umesh Yadav, the way he runs in. However, sometimes he goes off, as a bowler.”
South African pace spearhead Dale Styen also spoke highly about Yadav and was once quoted in a report from PTI saying, “I have been a big fan of Yadav. I am a fast bowler, I really like fast bowlers. We are both quite short, we are similar in height. He is stronger than I am and he has got a strong action and swings the ball. As the years go on, Umesh is going to be one of those guys that you can look up to. He can be a really good Test bowler too. He has got the action to land the ball in the right areas. Swing the ball away at high pace.”
After an ordinary Test series, where he had just two scalps in two games, as the spinners inflicted most of the damage, Umesh had his hopes pinned on the ODI series. He started off well in the first ODI and led the pace attack with immense confidence. He picked two early wickets with the new ball and got his team off to a flying start. These two scalps hailed the likes of Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor as India won the game convincingly. He looked good at Delhi as he got rid of Martin Guptill with a peach of a delivery in the very first over but that remained the only moment of glory for him in the entire innings.
Coming back to Mohali, Yadav meant business and picked three wickets but at what cost? He was the most expensive of the lot and leaked too many runs, which certainly did not serve India’s purpose. He kept straying from his line and kept going down the leg, which made run-scoring easier for the batsmen. In fact, he conceded 10 boundaries and couple of sixes as the New Zealand lower-order too managed to milk out runs from Umesh’s bowling. Although, it was just another bad game and it would not be just to judge him on that basis but he should look forward to bowl well and lead with example in the next two games, which he will undoubtedly play.
India are eyeing to clinch the series with a victory in the next game as the onus of making a comeback is on the visitors. One can expect the star-studded New Zealand side to come out fighting and put runs on the board, which they have done really well throughout the series. New Zealand have some serious depth in their batting but are yet to clicked as a unit. Indian bowlers will certainly have a torrid time if their batting click in the next counter.
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If Umesh manages to come out well and cement his spot in the Indian side, Indian pace attack will surely breathe fire and wear a dominant look. There will be enough variations in the line up as each bowler is unique in their own way and further provide enough opportunities to the Indian side to choose from. Umesh along with Shami can form a brutal pair, who could well hunt in pair. He has played 60 ODIs till date and has enough experience on his shoulders and things won’t be merrier for him if he fails to contain the batsmen.
Bhuvneshwar on the other hand has added an extra yard to his pace and worked on his bowling skills in the death, which was quite evident in the IPL. The competition is on and Umesh has a big opportunity in his hands with two more games to go.
(Suraj Choudhari is a reporter with CricLife and CricketCountry. He is an avid follower of the game, and plays the sport at club level. He has a radical understanding about the subtle nuances and intricacies of cricket, and tries to express it through paper and pen.)
