Paceman Umesh Yadav eyes IPL for comeback
BANGALORE: The news that right-arm medium pacer Umesh Yadav had taken the first few steps towards bowling at the National Cricket Academy nets this week was heartening. This was the first time he had ventured into cricket action after four months of rehabilitation.
Yadav, 25, a regular in the national team before a lower back injury put him out of action during the England series in November last year, is now eying the Indian Premier League as his comeback vehicle. He has four weeks to recover and deliver for his team Delhi Daredevils.
Son of a coal-mine worker, Yadav made waves for Daredevils in 2010 which in turn earned him a place in the Indian team for the World T20 in West Indies. Soon followed the ODI call-up for the Indian tour of Zimbabwe.
That was followed by a berth in the Test squad for the South Africa tour but Yadav could make his debut only against the visiting West Indies in New Delhi in November 2011.
He seized the opportunity with both hands, grabbing nine wickets in his first two Tests. Following his impressive feat, he was named in the team for their tour of Australia.
He went on to justify his inclusion, returning with seven wickets, including an innings haul of five wickets in the second Test in Perth. Circa 2012 was a mixed bag, however, Yadav finding himself nursing a back injury.
What started as a 10-day rest nearly turned out to be career threatening as the rehabilitation period kept extending, keeping him away from the home series against Pakistan and now Australia.
Confident of his recovery, Yadav is now eagerly waiting for IPL. "
I never thought the injury would put me out of action for this long. I thought I would recover in ten days and be back with the Indian team. Now I have already missed crucial matches due to the stress reaction in the lower body. It was disappointing for me to sit out after having had a successful stint at international cricket. But it is good I came to know about the injury early because if I had kept adding onto it would have ended my career. I am eagerly looking forward to the IPL to perform well and show the selectors that I am fit and ready for a comeback," said Yadav.
The pacer is not sure whether he would be able to bowl as fast as he did before the injury. "After months of rehabilitation, I started bowling in the nets from Monday. I am not bowling at full pace. I am using a short run-up of four steps. As my fitness levels improve, I will start taking long run-ups," he added.
Asked if he was over bowled during his stint with Indian team, Yadav answered in the negative. "Not at all. I have never been overused at the Indian team net sessions or during a match. Stress reaction occurs due to too much load on the back. It may have been caused by my indoor training or may be because of the long run-ups we take. Having played continuously for close to three years such injuries are inevitable," said Yadav who has 32 wickets from nine Tests and 18 wickets from 17 ODIs.
Source:-
http://articles.timesofindia.indiat...89235_1_indian-team-odi-indian-premier-league
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