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Umesh Yadav rues inconsistent run in ODIs

Dixit Bhargav
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Umesh Yadav rues inconsistent run in ODIs

Umesh Yadav rues inconsistent run in ODIs: The Indian fast bowler believes he hasn’t been used to the best of his abilities limited-overs cricket.

India fast bowler Umesh Yadav has failed to understand the rationale behind him getting infrequent chances in limited-overs cricket despite doing well in Test matches especially at home.

In a recent interview with The Indian Express, Yadav hoped to get a series of ODIs to prove his mettle with the white ball. Yadav, who last played four ODIs in 2018, didn’t get a game after the home series against West Indies in the same year.

“I haven’t understood that. White or red, the skill lies in swinging the ball,? I can do it as I have done it. Of course, the lengths will vary and that is obvious and down to cricketing intelligence. If I get a series of ODIs, I feel I can prove myself as a wicket-taking bowler. I do feel I haven’t been used properly by selectors in ODIs,” Yadav was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

Umesh Yadav rues inconsistent run in ODIs

Five of Yadav’s seven T20Is had also come in 2018. While he played his last T20I against Australia at home last year, he was subsequently dropped from the T20I side as well. What didn’t work for Yadav was the last season of the Indian Premier League where he picked eight wickets in 11 matches at an average of 46.37 and an economy rate of 9.37 for Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Yadav, who was India’s highest wicket-taker in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, has seen his numbers go down the hill since then in a start-stop career.

In 27 ODIs post the 2015 World Cup, the bowler has picked 39 wickets in 27 matches at an average of 37.38 and an economy rate of 6.45.

ALSO READ: Umesh Yadav expresses disappointment at ODI snub

“Get a game here and there, then sit out for six months. It does get difficult. Career has never been stable. Always up and down. I did well at the 2015 World Cup, but then again out.

“[You do feel a touch bad] that you aren’t getting as many chances. I used to feel a bit down in the past about sitting on the sidelines and watching. But it’s important that you make yourself understand the situation. I realised that it’s not healthy if I slip into pity. That feeling isn’t good as you won’t be able to perform well when you get a chance,” Yadav said.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Dixit Bhargav

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Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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