Healthy competition among Indian pacers is good for Indian cricket: Umesh Yadav

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 18 (ANI): Indian pacers have come up with some amazing performances for their sides in Indian Premier League 2022 so far with the likes of seniors like Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar spearheading the attack for their sides and giving them early breakthroughs. Umesh Yadav in his first six matches has managed to take 10 wickets for Kolkata Knight Riders with best figures of 4/23 in his quota of four overs.
"Definitely if you look at the structure of Indian cricket then it is a very healthy competition because all the boys are playing together for years and everybody knows that they will have to do well in order to play for the country and for the IPL. So, everybody has to do well. Not only me but Shami, Bumrah, Siraj. There are a lot of bowlers. Bhuvi is also there. Time will tell who performs well till the end and who does well in coming matches, I feel this is very healthy and the one who is passionate about and if he is doing well then even I have to do well. The tough fight should be there then that if a person even after reaching a certain age is bowling well then even I have to perform. So, if everyone is thinking like that then it is good for the team. This is good for Indian cricket as other boys will also get motivated to do well," said Umesh Yadav in an exclusive conversation with ANI.
Umesh Yadav was on a rampage in the match against Punjab Kings as the tearaway pacer gave his team an ideal start dismissing captain Mayank Agarwal in the very first over of the match. The Nagpur lad took four wickets in the match and bundled out PBKS for a paltry 137.
"The performance against Punjab was kind of special because the situation was tricky the way they had started and were making runs quickly because in the starting it seemed that they will reach up to 200 but the way team made a comeback everybody contributed like Tim Southee gave us a breakthrough. After that, every bowler who came in gave us a breakthrough so it was a combined team performance. It seemed that the entire team was playing as a unit, everybody was thinking that they will make 200 but we restricted Punjab Kings to 130. I got the 'Player of the Match' award but the entire team was involved in it without them it was difficult because the way Tim Southee created pressure from one end after that Mavi bowled well in a situation when he was being hit for runs he came and took wickets. The way spinners bowled. So, definitely, it was a team performance, I am happy that we played as a team and we won that match," said Umesh Yadav.
The way Umesh Yadav is performing he is presenting a strong case for himself for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2022 which will be played in Australia. But that is not what he is playing in his mind too much.
"I have not thought so much about the T20 World Cup as of now. Yes, the World Cup is there and that depends on the selectors, team management whatever it is. It all depends on them and if I perform well then definitely I am eligible for the selection but for the time being, I am focussing on the IPL and for me, it is important that I do well here and before that also there are tournaments. So, before the World Cup, I need to do well in the other white-ball tournaments. So, I will first look at these goals rather than World Cup goals. So, it is not like that. as a fast bowler, I have short term goals. First IPL and then after that whatever Indian tours if I get selected then definitely looking for that," explained Umesh Yadav.

It is not only the performance of the 34-year old pacer which is being noticed by everyone but his KKR captain Shreyas Iyer has appreciated his work ethics on record and is supporting him to the hilt and Umesh is repaying it with his performance.
"The more I am going to take care of my body then my body will take care of me. During my free time when I am not practising then I try to maintain my work ethics which is necessary for my bowling. If I keep my body strong then I will be strong in the ground too," said Umesh Yadav.
Umesh Yadav excelling as a spearhead of Kolkata Knight Riders and he will hold the key for them if they want to go the distance in this season. (ANI)