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Fit Umesh yearning to let it rip again
India’s new pace sensation Umesh Yadav is all set to make a comeback in the Deodhar Trophy inter-zonal one-day tournament starting on Friday after an injury rehab kept him out of contention for the Asia Cup.
India’s new pace sensation Umesh Yadav is all set to make a comeback in the Deodhar Trophy inter-zonal one-day tournament starting on Friday after an injury rehab kept him out of contention for the Asia Cup.
Yadav, who is being pitched as India's next frontline bowler with Varun Aaron, is on the road to peak fitness after recovering from a shin injury he picked on the Australia tour. “I'm back to full fitness. I'm not concentrating on anything other than achieving my goals, like working on my bowling and maintaining my fitness,” said the speedster from Vidarbha.
The pacer, who will take the field for Central Zone against South in the opening game, simply aims to bowl fast and take wickets rather than bother about the pitch. “The conditions don't matter much. Yes, you get more bounce and pace on the wickets abroad while in India, I can only name a few places like Bangalore and Mohali which are a bit pace-friendly. But as a bowler, all you have to look for is the correct line and length,” added Yadav, who admits he is far from taking over the mantle of India's new ball attack from seniors like Zaheer Khan.
Although the team had a miserable Australia tour, it was a big learning curve for Yadav, and he has returned wiser. “It was good exposure for me. Even though the tour did not pan out as per our expectations, the experience of bowling in different conditions will help me grow as a bowler.”
Yadav felt a rotation policy would allow fast bowlers to stay fit and ensure their longevity. “As a fast bowler, you cannot go on playing matches for long periods as it exposes you to injuries, besides weakening your muscles.”
The Piyush Chawla-led Central Zone will take on South Zone, led by Dinesh Karthik, in the one-off quarterfinal. The tournament will particularly give the fringe players a chance to make an impact before the domestic season winds down.
