I have learned to control my pace: Umesh Yadav

Hyderabad: Despite making his presence felt in another clinical win against Sri Lanka with a four-wicket haul, India pace spearhead Umesh Yadav is not taking his place in India’s World Cup squad for granted.

“It is difficult to say that I am a certainty for the World Cup. I hope the selectors take a note of my performance and reward me with a regular place in the side,” Umesh said at the post-match press conference after India’s six-wicket win.

Yadav, who is the leading wicket-taker in the series so far with eight scalps, led the charge in the third match with young spinner Axar Patel, who dismissed three batsmen. India restricted the Angelo Mathews-led side to 242 all out and then clinched the match and the series in style.

The bowler though is keeping his fingers crossed for the future.

“I am focusing on every single game. Taking each game at a time. Because I know that a good performance in each game will take me that much closer to securing a World Cup berth. The decision lies in the hands of selectors, my job is to perform and make my team win,” he said.

“The wicket was good. In overcast conditions it did offer help to the bowlers and we made good use of it. Though the wicket slowed down but the carry did help the bowlers to get their seam position right,” said the 25-year-old seamer.

Showing a steady graph in the series against Sri Lanka, Yadav, who picked up two wickets in the first ODI and got two again at Motera, said he is learning with each passing game.

“I have been playing at the top level for quite sometime and I have learnt from my performances. I have observed myself over a period time and have learnt to vary my length according to the condition. I try and pitch it up, forcing the batsman to play. So I have worked on my grey areas,” Yadav said.

“I have also learnt to control my pace. Today I bowled a touch slower but the control was there. Sometimes concentrating on pace I tend to forget the length and bowl fuller. But now I have learnt to focus on keeping a balance,” Yadav added.

The pacer admitted that getting the dangerous Kumar Sangakkara out for a duck was satisfying as a bowler but stressed the need to treat every wicket as the same.

“Of course, getting batsman of the stature of Sangakkara is a great feeling but as a fast bowler I know that every wicket is important for the team to win,” he said.

The bowler did not fall into the trap of comparing Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli as leaders and praised both the captains.

“Virat is always cool as ever. Mahi bhai is very mature and Virat is becoming very-much like him. My equation with both of them is good. They also think alike and give a lot of importance to the bowlers. So it’s a win-win situation under both of them,” he smiled.

With India already enjoying an unassailable 3-0 lead, Yadav said that the mood in the camp was ecstatic.

“We are happy that we have won the series. The team has performed well as a unit. The batsmen and the bowlers have done their bit and that is what is important,” he concluded.

PTI