Indian fast bowler Umesh Yadav is backing Indian pacers to taste success in South Africa and he feels they can take 20 wickets in overseas Tests. India will tour South Africa next year and he is among India’s major fast bowling prospect to deliver over there.
“The wickets in South Africa will put the focus back on the fast bowling unit and rightly so. There will be a lot of expectation from us and I believe this attack has the ability to get 20 South African wickets. All of us had a good 14 months at home and it’s time to translate into overseas success,” he said.
Indian pacer’s good show on rather slow pitches of sub-continent fills him with confidence for a good outing in South Africa. “I believe good fitness, proper plans were key to our success in the sub-continent. But the main thing is the attitude with which you enter the field. If we can maintain it in South Africa, no one can stop us,” said Yadav.
Vidarbha lad further added “Like Kapil Dev, my natural delivery is outswinger. If I try to bowl too many incoming deliveries, it can lead to me losing my outswinger, which I don’t want. Obviously, there will be a few change-ups with incoming deliveries but outswinger remains my core strength.”
Yadav admitted that he and his bowling mate were rather young during India’s previous overseas Test series, which led them to get over-excitement. However, he promises a mature show this time and quoted “During earlier tours, we were younger and expectedly more excited. But now, all of us — Ishant, Shami, Bhuvi and myself know how to curb our over-enthusiasm. We will be assessing the conditions. Like if it’s hard and bouncy pitch, you have to hit the good length consistently while if it’s spongy bouncy then I will have to pitch it up.”
In the recent time, he is reduced to only Test cricket along with Mohammad Shami, but he made it clear that selectors don’t see him as a ‘Test specialist’. “I can tell you that the national selectors have been quite aware of the workload on myself and Mohammed Shami. They have been very supportive and at no point have they told us that we are not in their scheme of things as far as limited overs are concerned,” he revealed.
“There have been times when we have gone upto the selectors and have asked for rest having bowled a lot of over in Test matches. When you are playing all formats, there is bound to be more wear and tear.”
Meanwhile, he also mentioned about fast bowlers issue with niggles after Test matches. “I also need to take care of my body and ensure that I remain as much injury free as possible. You don’t want to play with niggles and end up with major injury,” said Yadav.
Currently, every Indian fast bowler is bowling in tandem and all are making their case strong for a place in the playing XI. However, he is not worried about his place in the team and said “You are not insecure when you are aware about your capacity to play. I know how much cricket I can play at length and when my body requires rest. If you know how to manage workload, you are never insecure. When you take a break, it‘s only increases the longevity of one’s career and you can avoid career-threatening injuries.”
