Published: Apr 10, 2011, 10:29 AM (IST)
Edited: Mar 19, 2014, 06:53 PM (IST)
By Suhrid Barua
He is one good example of how the IPL platform can help in showcasing the skills of a player to the people who matter. Vidarbha lad Umesh Yadav impressed everyone with his pace and bounce on his IPL debut last season for Delhi Daredevils.
Yadav’s best performance came against Kolkata Knight Riders when he bagged the crucial wickets of David Hussey and Angelo Mathews (24) in consecutive overs to shape up Daredevils’ 40-run win at the Feroz Shah Kotla.
The 23-year-old express bowler comes from a modest background. Son of a coal-miner, Yadav wanted to be a policeman, but destiny had other plans for him.
The Delhi Daredevils fast bowler spoke about his game in an exclusive interview to CricketCountry.com
Excerpts from an interview:
Q: You made your IPL debut last season and made an immediate impression. Your zippy bowling attracted notice and you soon got picked in the Indian team. Do you think post-IPL your progress has been in fast-forward mode?
A: The 2010 IPL did a lot of good to my career. I was picked as a cover for injured Praveen Kumar for the 2010 T20 championship in the West Indies. I was also selected for the Zimbabwe tour and later handpicked for the South Africa tour. My career has looked up after the IPL.
Q: You were even widely tipped to play in the first Test against South Africa at Centurion after pace spearhead Zaheer Khan was ruled out because of an injury. You were very close to making your Test debut?
A: Well, I was practising hard in the nets and was hoping to make my Test debut. Though nobody told me that I would be playing, I was positive about making my Test debut. Its fine with me that Jaidev Unadkat got the break, I am happy for him. I would wait for my turn and hopefully it will happen soon.
Q: You shared the dressing room with someone like Zaheer Khan and other senior players during the South Africa tour. Do you see that trip as a big learning curve for you?
A: Absolutely. I learnt a lot from Zaheer bhai. He has been very helpful. He keeps coming up with tips – things like what line and length to bowl whenever I bowling at the nets. You get a lot of encouragement when you have someone like Zaheer supporting you.
Q: Talking of the IPL, there is a general perception that youngsters are satisfied just playing in the league and the drive to play for the country is dipping a bit. What are your thoughts?
A: Look, IPL is an opportunity for youngsters like me to prove our worth. I think it’s a great platform young cricketers are getting, but the bigger goal is always to play for India. I guess that’s the ultimate goal for me as for any other cricketer.
Q: Virender Sehwag is your captain in the IPL. He is such a feared batsman on the international stage. Tell us a bit about your experiencing of bowling at him at the nets?
A: Bowling to Veeru bhai is never easy. At the nets, I think of saving my face because he hits the ball straight so well. Of course pep talk with him always helps. He once told me, “Do what your heart says and not care much about what people say.”
Q: Delhi Daredevils has a potent bowling attack. You have the likes of Mornie Morkel, Ajit Agarkar and Irfan Pathan in your ranks. How do you see yourself fitting in the playing eleven?
A: Competition is there, but I’ve trained well for the IPL and hope to make a mark irrespective of whether I play in the starting eleven from the first game or not. I’m also looking forward to bowling together with Morkel.
Q: You are one of the few survivors of the 2010 Delhi Daredevils team. With many first timers in the team this season, you are already a senior pro…
A: I’m quite pumped up at the prospect of assuming the bowling responsibilities of my team. Besides me, only Veeru bhai, David Warner, Allan McDonald are part of the 2010 IPL Delhi team. I hope I can live up to the expectations of the team management.
(Suhrid Barua is a cricket buff who invariably gets pumped up before every India match)
