Xtra Time Web Desk : The success story of India cricketer Umesh Yadav is awe inspiring. The son of a coal miner, 32 year old Umesh once aspired to become a constable. His father Tilak Yadav wanted him to get a government job. A young Umesh missed the cut as he failed to secure the required marks in the examination for the post of constable in police department. After quite a few failed attempts in police force and army, the teenager from Nagpur turned to cricket in a desperate attempt to make a career out of it.
A late bloomer, Umesh started playing cricket as a 19 year old. He failed to make the college cricket team as he did not play for any club then in the year 2007. He was only playing tennis ball cricket in local tournaments. The fact that he was extremely fit and had the natural talent for bowling fast meant he was quick to make up for the lost time. He soon got an opportunity at Vidarbha Gymkhana (club affiliated to Vidarbha Cricket Association). For the first time he started bowling with the leather ball in Guzder League ‘A’ Division cricket tournament organized by VCA. It was in this tournament Vidarbha’s Ranji team captain Pritam Gandhe got impressed to watch him bowl fast. He helped Umesh to represent Air India in a Twenty20 tournament.
Umesh finally broke in the state Ranji squad as he made his debut against Madhya Pradesh during the 2008-0 season. He claimed four wickets in the first innings but did not get an opportunity to bowl in the second as his team lost the match by 10 wickets. Umesh ended up picking 20 wickets in his maiden Ranji season at an average of 14.60. His consistent pace around 140s and ability to swing even against the direction of swing caught the eyes of national selectors.
After a couple of seasons in domestic cricket Umesh made his ODI debut in the tri series against Zimbabwe in 2010. He failed to impress, picking up only one wicket in three matches. Following which he was out of reckoning in the national team. His next opportunity came a year later against England where his results improved and he has been a regular member of the national side since. His pace combined with an ability to swing the ball both ways has made him a handy addition to the test squad.
Yadav’s opportunities in the Test arena have been more limited due to the emergence of Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah. He has so far played 46 tests for India and picked 144 wickets at an average of 30.47. As far as his One Day career is concerned, he took 106 wickets from 75 ODIs at an average of 33.63.
Umesh also has reasonable success in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as well. He was the fourth highest wicket taker (picked 48 wickets) in the history of IPL during the 2014 edition when he helped Kolkata Knight Riders lift the title. He was roped in by Royal Challengers Bangalore for a whopping INR 4.2 crore in 2018 and has still been retained by the franchise.