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[caption id="attachment_41608" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Umesh Yadav joins KKR training ahead of KXIP game. Image Source: twitter[/caption] Kolkata: Kolkata Knight Riders speedster Umesh Yadav has joined the KKR side today after being requested to sit out for the first couple of matches for his long and tiring season for the national team. The news will no doubt bolster Gautam Gambhir's bowling attack before their first home game of the IPL 2017 against Kings XI Punjab scheduled April 13. Umesh is likely to replace an out of place Ankit Rajpoot. "Umesh Yadav is all geared up to make a thumping start in IPL," KKR posted a working-out picture of the 29-year-old who tweeted: "Ami KKR... First day with my team training time."

Ami KKR......First day with my team training time pic.twitter.com/rSCSZ8rYiw

— Umesh Yaadav (@y_umesh) April 11, 2017

The fast bowler also missed the first couple of games due to right hip and lower back soreness after a draining home season where he played as many as 12 Test matches. Even on spin-friendly wickets, Umesh was consistently lethal with his new-found rhythm as he provided crucial breakthroughs to finish the season as India's third-highest wicket-taker behind Ashwin and Jadeja. A fit-again Yadav is likely to replace Ankit Rajpoot in the bowling line-up for their match against Kings XI Punjab, who have posted back-to-back victories. Yadav's return will be a big boost to the side who lost to Mumbai Indians in their last leg in a match their star opener Chris Lynn aggravated an old injury on his left shoulder. "All those anxious about Lynn. He aggravated an old injury. Being treated and under observation by KKR team," team CEO Venky Mysore posted on his Twitter handle.

All those anxious abt @lynny50. He aggravated an old injury. Being treated & under observation by @KKRiders team. #duskiDAHAAD #AmiKKR — Venky Mysore (@VenkyMysore) April 11, 2017

The Aussie who made a T20I debut in January 2014 had undergone an operation on left shoulder in the same year for a rotator cuff problem. The Queenslander captain had a similar situation in 2015 when he injured the same shoulder during fielding.