Internet Desk: India speedster Umesh Yadav has admitted that as a senior bowler he needs to take more responsibilities along with Mohammed Shami. The 29 year old Umesh reached the milestone of 100th wickets in ODI career in the last ODI at Bengaluru. But his form in the shorter format has taken a nose dive since the last season. The team management has shown more faith in Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the ensuing series against Australia.
The local boy would be hoping to get a game despite leaking 71 runs in 10 overs in his first game of the series in Bengaluru. However, he did manage to pick up four wickets in the fourth ODI.
Umesh, speaking to media ahead of the fifth and final ODI, made no bones about his preference to play Tests before saying that he must improve in the other two formats.
“Shami and I played after a long time but we are senior players, we have to deliver on whatever the team needs from us. Shami and I have to take more responsibility in the death overs,” said Umesh.
Umesh played his first game in over a month on Thursday as he was rested for the ODI series in Sri Lanka following the Tests. He is liking how the management is taking care of pacers’ workload.
“It is good for the fast bowlers. If you play continuous Tests, it is a lot of load for the pacers. You are playing in sub-continent and it is very tough on the body. After that, it is hard for us to come back with the same intensity and play ODIs. So rest is a better option, it give you time to recover from niggles, that could otherwise keep you out of action for months,” he said.
He added that knowing your body well holds key to staying injury-free for a longer duration. “As a fast bowler, you should know much you need to bowl in the free time after a long series. You have to know your body. In free time, I know how much I need to bowl and how my body is reacting,” he said.