Indian fast bowler Umesh Yadav who is a part of the Indian Test squad for the upcoming World Test Championship final and the five-match Test series against England feels that Kane Williamson will be the key player for New Zealand and if they pick his wicket early then chances of India winning the inaugural Test Championship will brighten up. Umesh might have to warm the benches atleast for the final as the pace attack looks settled and raring to go.
“We do have a fair idea about Kane’s game, though I don’t think he has too many weaknesses,” Umesh was quoted as saying by Telegraph.
“Of course, any quality batsman can fall to a good delivery, so as a fast bowler, you should look to stick to your strong points and bowl more of those balls which can fetch you wickets. And yeah, we need to get Kane out as early as possible as that’ll surely benefit the team,” he added.
Both teams look very balanced on paper. Despite India’s dominance in the Test Championship, they will have their task cut out against a well oiled New Zealand unit that boasts of a sensational bowling attack and a world-class batting line-up.
Kane Williamson has handled the mantle of leadership very well and though his numbers outside New Zealand in the Championship is not something which he will be proud of but Williamson can prove to be a nemesis for India given his exploits in seam friendly conditions at home.
Umesh though admits that New Zealand are a well-balanced team and he expects a tough contest. “New Zealand are a strong side, they bat deep and their pacers are quite experienced and lethal. So it will be a tough game,” he said.
The English conditions are another challenge and the team that is disciplined in each session will be the one that will emerge victorious. English conditions are also a big challenge for us and so is playing against a team like New Zealand,” Umesh further added.
In the era of T20 cricket, it is very important for the Test specialists to keep themselves in the best of shapes. Umesh who hardly plays limited-overs cricket these days feels that as Test cricketers it is important to be disciplined in each and every aspects of the game.
“But being Test players, we need to play with discipline and make sure we remain disciplined right throughout in all aspects of the game. The team that maintains such discipline in each and every session will prevail,” Umesh quipped.
The UK bound Indian cricketers will start assembling in Mumbai very soon and that will be the destination from where they will be departing for the three-month-long tour of England. The players are currently on a break after the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League got suspended midway through the tournament.
“It’s difficult to say whether the IPL getting suspended was good or bad because in any case, cricket has reduced due to the pandemic,” Umesh said.