IPL 2019: Unfair to say that my performance wasn’t up to scratch, says Umesh Yadav on World Cup snub

RCB bowling coach Nehra explained why Umesh is struggling to deliver with the ball.

Umesh Yadav struggling to deliver in the IPL 2019 as well | IANS

Indian speedster Umesh Yadav has been going through a rough phase over the past few months which resulted in him missing out on the 2019 World Cup berth, and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) bowling coach Ashish Nehra believes that his confidence level has gone down and that’s the reason behind his current show with the ball.

In the last World Cup 2015, Umesh was India’s go-to man having topped the bowling charts for the Men in Blue with 18 scalps, but this time things are really against the Vidarbha pacer as he is neither getting international matches nor impressing the national selectors with his inconsistent display with the ball for RCB in the ongoing IPL 2019.

Since the last 50-over showpiece event, Yadav played only 27 out of India’s 86 ODIs, while he managed to perform well only in the five-ODI series in Windies in 2017, though, the pacer returned for the England ODIs last summer and home ODIs against West Indies on the back of IPL 2018 show, but again failed to impress, resulting in the selectors ignoring him for Australia and New Zealand series earlier this year.

And even the 31-year-old’s struggle to find his length and variations on the mark is clearly visible to everyone so far in the IPL 2019. While his economy rate is quite high, he has picked up only 8 wickets in his 9 matches for RCB in the tournament so far.

However, Nehra, admitted that Umesh wasn’t getting the new ball spot on and that is something the bowler needs to work on, as well as, needs to find the difference between pressure and fear to find his rhythm and make a comeback to the national side.

Nehra told reporters, “Definitely, he is short on confidence (due to) the way his international cricket has gone over the last 4-5 months. He is not part of the World Cup. He is not even among the standbys. It is not easy for any cricketer to take that. Definitely, that must be playing on his mind.”

He continued, “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.”

Meanwhile, Umesh also agreed with Nehra, but said it is unfair to overlook him for the World Cup 2019 by saying his performance wasn't up to the mark after only a handful of matches.

He added, “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.”

Yadav concluded, “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.”

The RCB bowling coach also believes that Yadav would certainly work on his weakness being an experienced bowler and make a comeback in the India team.

Nehra signed off by saying, “In this format, you need will more than skill, but what you need most is Dil (heart). There is a difference between pressure and fear. Being experienced, he (Umesh) knows where he is lacking. He is not a new guy like Navdeep Saini. He himself knows that he is not bowling at his best. From here on, he should look to make a comeback in the India team.”

(With Hindustan Times Inputs)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 30 Apr, 2019

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