'You guys call anyone' - Umesh Yadav remembers when he was ridiculed by coach for not having spiked shoes

Umesh Yadav has emerged as one of the vital cogs of the Indian pace battery. In recent times, the pace bowling force of India is regarded as one of the best in the world due to the quality it possesses. Many prolific speedsters like Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav are a part of the fast-bowling unit of Team India.

Speaking of Umesh Yadav, the Vidarbha pacer has delivered consistent performances with the red ball. Despite being the leading wicket-taker for India in 2015 World Cup, Umesh is currently sidelined from the limited-overs side. However, his bowling records reflect the calibre of the 32-year-old. He has donned the national jersey in 46 Tests and 75 ODIs where he has scalped 144 and 106 wickets respectively.

In his recent interaction with Cricbuzz, Umesh opened up on a lot of things including his cricketing journey. The pacer revealed that he was introduced to the seasoned ball very late in his career. Umesh said that he had watched the seasoned cricket balls only on the TV.

Umesh also revealed an instance when he was called for a summer camp. However, on the first day of the camp, he was ridiculed by the coach for not having spiked shoes. Umesh was so upset after the incident that he thought of leaving cricket altogether.

“I thought the ball (seasoned ball) looks same, people play with this also. When I entered the ground someone noticed my fast Yorkers and then the secretary gave me the offer to play district cricket for Nagpur. I took 8 wickets and they called me for a summer camp.

On the first day of the camp, the coach asked me where were my cricketing shoes. He said that ‘you don’t have shoes you have come here, you guys call anyone, he doesn’t even know about spikes shoes’. I felt really bad and also thought of leaving cricket altogether,” Umesh told Cricbuzz.

Umesh Yadav reminisced his five-wicket haul for South Zone

Umesh was supported by his friends to ignore such comments. Reaping fruits of labour, the pacer finally got the chance to play against India stalwarts like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman in a Duleep Trophy game. Recalling the moment, Umesh said that he had never imagined to bowl such spell in a pressure situation. Umesh scalped a five-wicket haul and also took prized wickets of Dravid and Laxman.

“When I went to play the Duleep Trophy match and got to know the team I would be playing against and I would be bowling against the likes of Dravid and Laxman – I was terrified.

I said ‘bacche ki Jaan loge kya (will you kill the small kid’. I had never imagined that I would bowl such a fine spell under such a pressure situation. I took a 5-wicket haul for South Zone and I got the big wickets of Dravid and Laxman. That gave me immense confidence,” Umesh said.