Umesh determined to play across all three formats

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India and Royal Challengers Bangalore fast bowler Umesh Yadav wants to press for a place in the XI across all three formats.

The rise of Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar has seen Umesh relegated to the role of fast bowling reserve, even overseas, but he is determined to not only earn his Test spot back but work his way into the white ball teams as well.

Umesh displayed some of his white ball skills with a superb 3 for 23 against the Kings XI Punjab this week taking all three scalps in the same over.

Speaking to IPLT20.com Umesh said: “That’s a tag I’ve carried all along.

“Because in Test cricket, you have a lot of time to play around with your pace and swing. If you have the talent, you can reverse it.

“I want to play all three formats for my country because I enjoy all three formats. I have age on my side, and I believe I have the ability to deliver in all formats.

“I try and give it my best because whether you’re bowling in limited-overs cricket or in Tests, you have to hit the same length with the new ball.”

Umesh credited RCB bowling coach Ashish Nehra with helping him improve his game.

He said: “When you get a fast bowler as your coach, especially one who invests a lot of confidence in you, gives you all the help and support you need, your own confidence as a bowler starts soaring.

“Nehra paaji told me, ‘You’ve got pace at over 140, so you must try and pitch it on the stumps. If a batsman tries to hit you straight or comes down and clobbers a six, that’s fine with me.’

“So I tried to give it all the energy I had, hit the right lengths and areas. And I’ve been able to do this because of him. Ever since our camp began, he’s made me practice bowling at the stumps, with the off stump as the marker in the off side.”

Umesh has played 71 ODIs and 36 Tests but has just one T20I to his name to date.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

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