India pacer Umesh Yadav has expressed disappointment on missing out on the opportunity to perform in absence of other senior bowlers in Australia. Umesh was one of the many players in the Indian lineup to get ruled out of the series due to injury.
“It’s difficult. I got injured after the second Test in Australia. That was a big opportunity for me when the rest of the senior bowlers were not available. If I could do well in that situation, it would have been a big boost like it has done to the young boys who played in Australia,” he said in an interview with The Times of India.
The right-arm bowler had sustained a calf injury. While he missed the Australia series away from home, Yadav was omitted from the squad that played against England on home soil.
The former RCB fast bowler pointed out that not getting much match practice due to injury makes it a tough task for any player to get back into the groove quickly. “There was plenty of cricket after that. I didn’t get to play the Tests against England at home. I didn’t get matches in the IPL as well. It’s difficult to make a comeback after injury when you don’t play many games,” he added.
Umesh,33, is with the Indian team in the UK as Virat Kohli-led side is slated to play the final of the inaugural World Test Championship against New Zealand in Southampton from June 18 and will then take on England in a five-match series away from home.