Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun has revealed a heartwarming story about veteran fast-bowler Umesh Yadav. Finding a place in the playing eleven of the Indian team in recent times has been really tough.
Very few players have managed to get a consistent run in the playing elevens in recent years. In fact, the Indian team-management has faced severe criticism in recent years for constantly changing the team combination. And one player who has constantly been in and out of the team for years is Umesh Yadav.
Despite being one of the fastest bowlers in the country and his proven track record, he has not been able to cement his place in the playing eleven. And unsurprisingly, it has disappointed him. Bharat Arun has revealed how being left out of the playing eleven made Umesh Yadav “angry” and “disappointed”.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, the former India coach revealed that the selection snubs often made Umesh Yadav question himself. Arun said that he barely had answers for the bowler and had to explain at length.
“There are many instances when Umesh was disappointed not being part of the team especially after doing very well. But I had a lot of explaining to do because he would come up to me and say, ‘Why have you dropped me? What wrong did I do?’
“It was a very tough call because there are only that many fast bowlers you could play in terms of what they had done and their form, especially when Shami, Bumrah and Ishant were the fast bowlers with Hardik Pandya to chip in as the fourth fast bowler back when he was playing Test cricket. Umesh was bowling beautifully but was consistently being dropped,” Arun recalled.
Umesh Yadav’s reaction:
Speaking further, Bharat Arun revealed Umesh Yadav’s reaction to the snubs. Arun recalled that the pacer used to get furious at the selection choices and would not speak to him for a day but would eventually return having understood the situation.
“Sometimes he would get so angry that he would not speak to me for a day but then he would come to me and say I understand. Even when I speak to him I say, ‘If you are not angry, there is something wrong with you. If it doesn’t happen, you are accepting things meekly.’ Umesh was magnificent. He was a perfect team man that you would want to have in your side,” said Arun.
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