Umesh Yadav's Rise: A Journey Born in Financial Hardship

New Delhi, October 24

Few Indian pacers have combined speed and bounce as effectively as Umesh Yadav. The veteran fast bowler has played a key role for India in Test and ODI formats and has also been a familiar name in the IPL, featuring for multiple franchises. His attacking style has repeatedly troubled batters around the world.

Yadav was born on October 25, 1987, in Nagpur, Maharashtra. His father worked at a coal mine run by Western Coalfields Limited in Khaparkheda, near Nagpur, and the family lived in a colony attached to the mine. Financial pressures were a constant presence in the household.

With two daughters and two sons in the family, his father wanted at least one child to complete college. Yet the family's circumstances did not allow it. Umesh had a natural talent for cricket, but he had also considered a career in the army or the police.

Umesh's first-class career began at 20 with Vidarbha. It was his first experience of a red SG Test ball, as he had previously grown up playing with a tennis ball. He impressed immediately, taking 4 wickets for 72 runs on debut against Madhya Pradesh. His debut season in 2008-09 produced 20 wickets from four matches at an average of 14.60.

Bowling regularly above 140 km/h, he was signed by Delhi Daredevils for IPL 2009/10. He took 31 wickets in four seasons with the side. Later, he turned out for Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Gujarat Titans.

His One Day International debut came on May 28, 2010. He made his Test debut in November 2011 and his T20 International debut on August 7, 2012. His early Test performances, with 9 wickets in two matches, helped him earn a place in India's Australia tour squad. Although the tour was a difficult one for the team, Umesh took 14 wickets in four Tests.

At the 2015 ODI World Cup, he was one of India's principal bowlers, claiming 18 wickets at an average of 17.83. He finished third among the tournament's leading wicket-takers.

Umesh has been especially effective on home pitches. Across 57 Test matches and 112 innings, he has taken 170 wickets at an average of 30.95. He has 106 ODI wickets from 75 matches and 12 wickets from 9 T20 Internationals.

In first-class cricket, he has played 126 matches and taken 387 wickets. His List A record stands at 194 wickets from 136 matches. In the IPL, he has taken 144 wickets in 148 games.