Umesh Yadav - determined to keep up the pace

Umesh Yadav

Just a few days back, R Ashwin had unearthed his strategies and game plan which he is working upon for the coming season.

Now, it is the turn of our talented right-arm fast bowler Umesh Yadav, who has categorically underlined his commitment to maintain sheer pace in his bowling.

To continue the trend, in a near future, we can expect a strategic statement from Bhuvneshwar Kumar too!

Umesh Yadav is going to complete 26 years of age in October 2013 and is termed as the fastest Indian bowler in international cricket in a long time. His average bowling speed is around 140 kmph, though he has managed to cross the 150 mark too.

Not going by any claim or inflated statement, most of the fans of the game firmly believe that the upcoming tour of South Africa is going to be an acid test for him.

Given the condition of the pitches in South Africa, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav will be the key players for India. So much so, that a few others believe that the prime responsibility lies on Yadav, being the fastest in the squad.

Honestly, R Ashwin and Sir Jadeja might be able to contain the run-rate, but the onus of taking wickets of Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers primarily lies on Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Ashwin can stop runs on account of his variation and Jadeja, based on his unpredictable style of bowling. But on those pitches, wicket-takers are expected to be the faster bowlers.

And for that matter, Yadav has clearly expressed his desire to not let go of his pace.

He said, “As a fast bowler, I needed to have a clear mind about what my priorities are. My strength is to bowl consistently at a fast pace and that will always be my aim as long as I play for the national team.

“If I have been selected in the Indian team to play across all formats, it is because I have the sheer pace more than anything else. Even when I got injured last season [stress reaction in back], cutting down on pace never ever crossed my mind.

“When you come back, your body asks you a few questions but you should always stick to doing what you do best”.

Though he is a man of few words, he has a clear vision of the path he wants to undertake. In August 2012, while talking to Wisden India, he had thanked Zaheer Khan by saying, “This is just the beginning of my career and I take every match as an opportunity to learn something new. That’s where Zaheer bhai is a big help.

“For example, when the ball is not doing anything in the air or off the surface, when there’s no reverse swing, it gets difficult as a fast bowler. If you bowl too full, you go for runs and the same happens if you err on the shorter side. That’s when Zaheer bhai comes in and tells me what the right length to bowl is.”

It is really heartening to note that our young bowlers are not simply working hard, but seem fully committed to learn and improvising. These qualities will certainly help them become great bowlers in the long run. All the best for the coming season.