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Indian fast bowler Umesh Yadav has had a rebirth in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during the 2022 season. Having won the trophy with the Kolkata-based franchise in 2014, Umesh has had a topsy-turvy career in the IPL since then, first turning out for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and then joining Delhi Capitals (DC) ahead of the 2021 season.
Umesh failed to make a single appearance for Delhi, and almost went unsold at the 2022 IPL mega auction, before being snapped up at his base price of Rs 2 crores by KKR. This purchase raised many eyebrows but since then, the 34-year-old veteran of the game has been one of their most prolific bowlers this season.
In five matches, Umesh has picked up 10 wickets. He was atop the Purple Cap standings for the first few matches as well, before being overtaken by Rajasthan Royals' Yuzvendra Chahal (11).
Used as a powerplay bowler has boded well for the right-arm fast pacer, who has picked up more than half of his wickets in the first six overs. The star bowler caught up with Sports Tak for an exclusive interview ahead of KKR's next match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and discussed his role in the team and his chances of a recall to the national team for limited-overs competitions.
What would you say about your role with KKR this season?
My role with KKR has already been seen by everyone. My job is to take wickets. That is a job for every fast bowler. I am trying my best to get wickets in the powerplay. They have given me a clear role saying, 'this is your job.' there is no pressure on me. I am doing whatever my captain and my team want me to do. Everything is clear.
You have not played too many matches (in the IPL) recently, but your performance this season has been very good. What is your opinion on this?
It is not very difficult actually. When you play with the red-ball (Test cricket), the lengths are almost the same. There is not much of a difference. If you bowl well in Test cricket then there should be no problems. Definitely, a bowler has to work on his yorkers and slower balls, but you can see in Test cricket also that yorkers and slower balls are used when there is no help from the wicket. But thinking and executing are two different things. Sometimes you can execute, sometimes you cannot. The shots also depend on the bowling. So adapting, I personally feel, is not that tough.
What do you think about people who say that you are not too good during the death overs?
A lot of people say that I do not know how to bowl in the death. But we have to keep in mind that I am not the only bowler who concedes runs in the death overs, however good he may be. If you keep playing in a particular position then you get used to it. But when you don't play for two-three years and then have to play in that position then you will not have an idea. When you are playing it is not necessary to take a wicket immediately.
People only point me out because I am a senior bowler, so the question they ask is 'why does he not bowl in the death over?' But if you look at the match experience, then you need to also look at the good matches. If out for 14 matches four have gone bad, then I have performed in the remaining 10.
During these matches, are you aiming to play for the India team at the T20 World Cup?
I have not thought so much. I know the world cup is happening. Now (selection to the team) depends on the selectors and the team management. If my performances are good then definitely I am eligible for selection. But for the time being, I am concentrating on the IPL because this is equally important, because if I do well here then I think about the World Cup as there are many tours as well before the World Cup as well. I have to do well (in the IPL and these tours) and that is my goal.
