Hailing his fitness levels and humble nature, Umesh Yadav's Vidarbha captain Faiz Fazal narrated the right-arm pacer's journey and his growth. 

Faiz recalled how Umesh travelled for a Duleep Trophy match where they were both picked for the encounter against South Zone, featuring Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. 

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"I think Umesh Yadav is the fittest in the Indian team. That's played a huge role in the advancement of his career. He has also been very hardworking, and he is a humble guy," said Faiz in conversation with sports commentator Arun Venugopal on chat show 'Homerun with AV'. 

"Believe it or not, in the first year of his Ranji Trophy career, he got picked for the Central Zone side for the Duleep Trophy. Only two of us were picked for the Central Zone side from Vidarbha - Umesh and I."

"I had reached the airport. Poor Umesh was riding pillion on his brother's bike with the kit bag in one hand and a suitcase in another. My aunt, who had come there to drop me, said: 'Look at this poor thing. But you know what? Aise hi log bahut jaldi India khel lete hain (Such hardworking people go on to play for the India team really quickly)' I still remember what she said."

Umesh wasn't initially due to play that match at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore in January 2009. But then, as fate would have it, Praveen Kumar pulled out with an illness. 

"Look at how the stars aligned," said Faiz. "We had some extraordinary fast bowlers in the Central Zone side, such as Pankaj Singh, Praveen Kumar, and Rudra Pratap Singh, apart from Umesh. We were set to play a tremendous South Zone side that included Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, and S. Badrinath. Umesh had no chance of playing that game. But, Praveen Kumar took ill and couldn't play the match, so ultimately the only option was to include Umesh."

"Umesh got a five-for in that game, and he dismissed Dravid, Laxman. He was bowling at a speed of 145-150 kmph. This was a televised game and suddenly there was a lot of chatter about who Umesh Yadav was and how he had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. That was a career-defining match for him."

"I have seen him grow tremendously and he soon went on to play for the country. I am so proud that he has gone on to play for India. But, despite playing so much and achieving what he has, he still remains a humble guy. That's more creditable, I think. Ultimately, you will always be remembered for the person you are."

Umesh, who ended with figures of 5/76 in the first innings of the drawn encounter, recently said he was intimidated over the prospect of bowling to greats like Dravid and Laxman. 

"When I went to play the Duleep Trophy match and got to know the team I would be playing against and I would be bowling against the likes of (Rahul) Dravid and (VVS) Laxman... I was terrified," Umesh had said on Cricbuzz's chat show 'Spicy Pitch'.

"I had never imagined that I would bowl such a fine spell under such a pressure situation. I took a 5-wicket haul for South Zone and got the big wickets of Dravid and Laxman. That gave me immense confidence."

Umesh made his Test debut in 2011 and has since taken 144 wickets in 46 games at an average of 30.47.

(Inputs from CricketNext)