Xtra Time Web Desk : Kolkata Knight Riders fast bowler Umesh Yadav have had the best start to IPL 2022 season. The experienced pacer was instrumental in KKR comprehensively beating Punjab Kings by 6 wickets on Friday. The pacer from Vidarbha also left his mark in KKR’s win over Chennai Super Kings in the first match of the ongoing IPL season. With 8 wickets from 3 matches, Umesh is currently the holder of Purple Cap.
It has been quite a fascinating start to the IPL season for Umesh after being picked at the last moment by the KKR management from the auctions held in February. Umesh, who is a regular member of Team India Test squad was dumped by nine franchises at the mega auction. He went unsold twice before finally getting picked by KKR for his base price. He has been excellent this season and already scalped most wickets in the first three appearances.
On Friday, he broke the backbone of Punjab Kings (PBKS) with wickets of Mayank Agarwal and Liam Livingstone to ensure KKR dominate the bowling department. His figures of 4/23 is his best in IPL career so far, bettering his 4/24 he took against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2012.
Despite being one of the seasoned campaigners, Umesh travelled to three franchises over the last four-five seasons. While he played just two games for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2020, his move to Delhi Capitals the next season was a no-show as he did not play a single game.
The 34-year-old cricketer is also not a certainty in the playing XI in the longer format for India. With the likes of Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah spearheading the fast-bowling attack and the emergence of Mohammed Siraj, Umesh has to wait for an opportunity.
With the T20 World Cup six months away, it will be interesting if the selectors include Umesh in the India T20 squad, provided he keeps performing the way he started the season.
While it may still be a daunting task for him to break into India’s white-ball side, but with the determination Umesh has shown so far, let’s hope he carries on the good show throughout the IPL 2022 season.