Ian Chappell praises Indian pacer Umesh Yadav’s efforts

As Indian won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, compliments were coming in from all quarters from Indian fast Umesh Yadav, whose performance was exceptional throughout the series. Former Australia captain Ian Chappell also heaped praise on the KKR bowler and said his fiery pace did the trick for India in the fourth and final Test in Dharamsala.

Umesh and Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a fiery first spell and got rid of the Australian top order before they could wipe off the 32-run lead India had obtained. They rattled them with pace and bounce that was on offer from the quick Dharamsala wicket and gave the Team a head start in the second inning.

After Australia set a target of 106 for the hosts to win the match the series, India were 19 for no loss at stumps on day three, needing another 87 runs and got them quite comfortably on the fourth morning. “Umesh Yadav has been a real hero for India, and it’s not just in this Test match, he has done well in the whole series and throughout the whole summer,” Chappell told ‘ESPNcricinfo’.

He added, “To perform in so many Test matches and to have that sort of fire that he had at the start of Australian second innings, it was almost like he was determined that Australia were going to loose quite a few wickets before they got rid of the arrears. I thought he did a terrific job. Really the fire of Umesh Yadav that did the trick for India.”

Another aspect that Chappell highlighted in India’s win was the defiant partnership between Ravindra Jadeja and Wriddhiman Saha in the first session. He also credit skipper Ajinkya Rahane for backing his bowlers and including 5 in the playing XI, including the debutant Kuldeep Yadav.

The 22-year old Kuldeep, who is India’a first chinaman bowler to play Test cricket, bagged 4 wickets on Day 1 to put Australia under the pressure. And Rahane had played his part in bringing the wrist spinner in the playing XI.

The Indian team will now be busy with their preparations for the India Premier League (IPL), and soon after that, for the Champions Trophy in England.