Virat Kohli jokingly backs Umesh Yadav to play role of pinch hitter in Tests for Indian team

Umesh has played couple of quickfire cameos for India in the Tests.

Virat Kohli hit 31 runs in 10 balls against Bangladesh | AFP

India pacer Umesh Yadav made a place for himself in the playing XI by showing his worth with the ball. He bagged a fifer against Bangladesh in India's first-ever day-night Test. Not only with the ball, but Umesh has also been very entertaining with the bat as well.

Yadav's batting was highlighted when he smashed a 10-ball 31 against South Africa at Ranchi. It was the fastest 30+ score in Test. Just to confirm it wasn't a fluke, he continued his power hitting against Bangladesh too.

India skipper Virat Kohli looked impressed with Umesh's batting. He went on to call him a perfect batsman for a pinch hitter in Test as a joke.

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"If say Hardik is not fit as an all-rounder to play overseas, even if you play with five bowlers and just one spinner plays, you know as a batting unit, along with a keeper, and that one spinner either Ash (Ashwin) or Jaddu (Jadeja) ever plays, your batting till seven and then Umesh the way he is batting now, he can probably bat at No.3 as well as a pinch hitter (chuckles)," Kohli told Boria Majumdar on the new show, India Today Inspiration.

India's pace attack is looking good to tour overseas and achieve more success. They will be next seen in action with red-ball against New Zealand in 2020.

(With India Today Inputs)

 
 

By Sihyeu Singh - 01 Dec, 2019

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