India's tour of South Africa 2018: Analysing India's bowling resources

Umesh Yadav is a handy third pacer option

Umesh Yadav

It is to his credit that he gets the tag of being one of the senior pros, and to have had two fifers in Australia in late 2011 and early 2012. Truth be told, he had tailed off a bit, with his wayward disciplines despite bowling like the wind. Pace if not combined with the desired lengths in a disciplined manner becomes pace off the bat, which he has found out most often to his irksome displeasure. But as the third pacer, and his propensity to reverse swing will be a handy option for the skipper.

Ishant Sharma

Despite being in the circuit for nearly 10 years, and 220 plus wickets, he is still a puzzle, cloaked as a riddle, wrapped in an enigma! Hunting with Zaheer Khan till the latter packed it in, he was a force to reckon with even on docile Sri Lankan tracks with his height and release, even when not distinctly great. One reckons the mantle of being a senior bowling pro has been a crown that has rested uneasily on his head. It is a shame that he won't be a starter in my eleven at Capetown, cometh 5th January. His time may be running out soon enough lest he not comes up with inspired spells in these helpful conditions, as a host of fast young men are breathing down his neck. It is perish or perform time that stares him in the face.