Umesh Yadav strikes at right time against Australia in BGT Series third Test

From an Indian perspective, for Umesh to bounce back in the squad ahead of the spinners was important. He has been in and out of the squad, though his utility with the red ball was never in doubt.

Umesh Yadav strikes at right time against Australia in BGT Series third Test

Umesh Yadav

Team India needed the pace and burst of aggro from Umesh Yadav on Thursday morning to dismiss Australia for 197, a lead of 88 runs in the third Test of the BGT Series in Indore. Tall Umesh, who came in for swing bowler Mohd Shami, used the freshness of the morning to clean up the tail.

A lead of 88 runs is a good one on this track. From an Indian perspective, for Umesh to bounce back in the squad ahead of the spinners was important. He has been in and out of the squad, though his utility with the red ball was never in doubt. On docile pitches at home, tailored for the spinners, speedsters do not get much help. So, for Umesh, to bounce back was important. On rotation policy, Mohammed Shami was rested for the third Test.

Looked at from a statistical point of view, Umesh’s haul was tidy in the sense he bowled five overs and gave away only 12 runs. From a leader’s point of view, Rohit Sharma has not been at his best in this Test as captain. He had not shuffled the bowlers properly on Wednesday. To unsettle the Aussies, what was needed was a combo of pace and spin. The excessive reliance on spin did not work on Wednesday.

Related: “Get well soon champ”- Twitter reacts as Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of IPL 2023, likely to undergo back surgery

On tracks at home, Umesh Yadav has been efficient and can be relied upon

Umesh Yadav strikes at right time against Australia in BGT Series third Test
Umesh Yadav

The morning session on Thursday has caused surprises on both days and this is where Umesh, who bowls at a fast clip, came in handy. Sample this, a week ago, Umesh Yadav’s father, Tilak Yadav, passed away at 74. This effort from the son was perhaps the best tribute he could offer to his departed Dad. For long, there has been a gap between potential and performance. On tracks at home, Umesh has been efficient and can be relied upon.

With Jasprit Bumrah now ruled out for at least six months, as he plans to undergo back surgery, a bowler like Umesh Yadav is important. Assuming that India makes it to the ICC World Test Championship final and competes against the Aussies in June in England, fast bowlers will be in the equation. There is no way England are going to prepare turning tracks!

The latest on Bumrah is, he will be flying to New Zealand and go under the knife, according to Cricbuzz. Apparently, well-known surgeon Rowan Schouten, based in Auckland, will be operating on Bumrah. The rest, rehab and recovery period will be long. He may be out for six months, at least.

This is where the back-up fast bowlers will come in handy, where Umesh is important in red ball cricket. At 35 years plus, playing his 54th Test, Umesh has taken 165 wickets. Physically, Umsh Yadav is strong and ready to bowl quick spells. His fitness is fine at the moment and he has delivered at the right time. For the sheer volume of cricket played these days, bowlers like Umesh are handy for any skipper. He proved it again.

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