Speedster Umesh Yadav reckons that the current crop of Indian bowlers are pretty competent and will do wonders in overseas conditions. Virat Kohli’s troops are scheduled to tour South Africa for a three-match Test series next month and Yadav believes that current Indian attack has the ability to take 20 Proteas wickets.
"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," Umesh Yadav was quoted by PTI as saying.
"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," he added.
During India’s preceding tours of South Africa, England, Australia and New Zealand, the pacers used to get carried away with their line. Umesh Yadav though ensured that the same mistakes won’t be repeated this time around.
"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," said Umesh.
"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," he further elaborated.
In the recent times, there has been an intense competition among the Indian pacers, but the 30-year-old paceman is not at all insecure about his place in the team.
"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,” Umesh explained.
"When you take a break, it only increases the longevity of one's career and you can avoid career-threatening injuries," he concluded.
Meanwhile, in order to lessen the workload of six frontline pacers – Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, Indian team management had urged the BCCI to let Basil Thampi, Mohammed Siraj, Avesh Khan and Navdeep Saini accompany the team. And now the team management’s wish has been granted by the Indian cricket board.
"The team will have four pacers to help at net sessions. They are Basil Thampi, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Siraj and Navdeep Saini," a senior BCCI official had told CricketNext.
India Test Squad for South Africa Tour:
Virat Kohli(c), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Parthiv Patel, Jasprit Bumrah
