Watch: Dropped from the Indian Test squad, Umesh Yadav returned figures of 4-56 in the Ranji Trophy 2024 match against defending champions Saurashtra.
Among the Indian fast bowlers who have taken 100 Test wickets at home, no one has a better batting average and strike rate than Umesh Yadav with 25.88 and 48 respectively. However, he is not part of theIndian Top Team Team 2. His five consecutive Tests with England are scheduled to begin in January 2024.
India prefers a two-person strategy domestically. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and, if fit, Mohammed Shami are the clear favorites, with the selectors fielding Mukesh Kumar as a replacement. Time seems to be running out for the 36-year-old Umesh as Prasidh Krishna and Avesh Khan also appear to be leading in the top order.
But after Akshay Wadkar decided to bat at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground in Nagpur, Umesh showed that he still had cricket left in him.
He had Vishwaraj Jadeja caught when he attempted a wide drive. The ball stayed on the line, caught the edge of Sheldon Jackson and flew to second slip where Arpit Basavada was caught behind.
However, Umesh did his best for Prerak Mankad and Mankad stood on the pitch as he did not expect the ball to move so much. The ball was thrown over a long distance, deflected just enough to reach the outside edge, and hit Wadkar’s big glove.
Umesh finished with 4 wins and 56 losses as the defending champions were bowled out for 206 points. In comparison, the host team only scored 78 points against Chirag Jani (4 minutes 14 seconds). Once again Umesh led the attack with his 3-42, but another Test hold by Cheteshwar as his Pujara followed his innings of 43 in the first with his 66, Saurashtra scored his 244. I piled up.
Vidarbha chased 373 to win but lost to Dhruv Shorey early on. As of this writing, the score was 26-1 for him.
Watch Umesh Yadav claim 4-56 against Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy:
Fantastic Four-fer 🙌@y_umesh bowled a superb spell of 4/56 to help Vidarbha bowl Saurashtra out for 206. 👌👌
Check out his spells 📹 🔽@IDFCFIRSTBank | #RanjiTrophy Image. twitter.com/h7Q81Wr1Zt
– BCCI Home (@BCCIdomestic) 1 2024 January 1
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