Umesh Yadav does not worry for 'out of control' injuries; stays motivated over place in playing XI

The absence of Ishant Sharma on the tour of Australia could well have been the most perfect opportunity for Umesh Yadav to reclaim his place as one of the three frontline quicks of the Virat Kohli-led team. However, midway through the series, Umesh Yadav hurt his calf muscle and missed the latter half of the series in a frustrating series of events.

Now, part of the squad for the tour of England after his recovery, Yadav might have slipped behind Mohammed Siraj in the pecking order after the latter's momentous rise in the tour Down Under. 

Umesh though does not want to focus where he stands in the team in terms of the captain’s preference and the injury setback. 

He has said that the Melbourne injury, where he had to walk off the field, was the first such instance in his 10-year long career and was out of his control. Instead, he focussing more on aspects that are under his control such as staying in a positive frame of mind and training hard so as to perform when the team needs the most.

“Look, we can’t have any control over injuries. But that kind of injury (calf muscle) happened to me for the first time in my 10 years at this level. It has never happened in the past that I had to leave the ground due to an injury. Now, being in the XI or not being included is another part of the game. You play some, you miss some. But I have kept backing myself and also motivate myself during training so that my mind and body stay positive… That helps me feel strong. It’s just about keeping yourself fit with a positive mindset, which is in your control,” Umesh said in an interview with The Telegraph.

Umesh Yadav played on the last tour of England as well but was not fruitful with the duke ball before making way for Jasprit Bumrah in the playing XI. Given it’s a lengthy tour and of six Test matches, Umesh is likely to get his chances somewhere down the line.