World Cup 2019| I am disappointed because I didn’t get a fair run, says Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav’s form for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the ongoing Indian Premier League has been questionable. The pacer has conceded almost 10 runs per over in most of the games and hardly posed a threat this season. 

Umesh was India’s most successful bowler in the 2015 World Cup and did well to bag 18 wickets to finish as the third-highest wicket-taker on a whole. However, his recent form hasn’t been quite impressive as a result of which, he was overlooked in the upcoming World Cup squad.  RCB’s bowling coach Ashish Nehra said that Umesh was short on confidence and hasn’t pitched the new ball in right areas like last year.

“Last year that was his success mantra. He was bowling very well with the new ball. I feel the way he was swinging the ball, 70-80% of them were in good areas. (This time) the ball is going down leg. Definitely, he is lacking in confidence,” Nehra was quoted in a report by Hindustan Times.

To Nehra’s comments, Umesh replied that the coach was right and the World Cup snub has been playing on his mind. “Ashish bhai is right. I haven’t been hitting the good areas as often as I was last year. Unlike last year, when I was hitting them 80% of the time, this time, I am hitting them at just 60%. The World Cup snub has been on the back of my mind,” Umesh said.

Umesh hasn’t been a regular outfit in the ODIs since 2015 World Cup; having played just 27 out of 86 ODIs that India have played.  To add to his woes, Umesh has only played four ODIs in the last one year. He wasn’t given a longer rope and has been in and out of the Indian side in recent times. The lanky pacer has said that not getting enough opportunities on a stretch has only added pressure on him to perform. 

“When you don’t get opportunities regularly, there is pressure to perform every time. That can wreck anyone. I feel disappointed when I am told that my performance wasn’t up to scratch. I would have accepted if I’d been given 8-9 ODIs at a stretch and then failed. I don’t want to comment on selection. All I can say is that I am disappointed because I didn’t get a fair run,” Yadav said.