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Can Umesh Yadav Make The Cut For T20I Matches Ahead?

Mohammed Shami tested positive for COVID-19 just before India welcomed Australia for a 3-match T20I series at home. It resulted in Umesh Yadav being called up as Shami’s replacement. The speedster last played a T20I for India in 2018 but was pushed in India’s starting XI ahead of Deepak Chahar while Jasprit Bumrah was rested for the first game of the T20I series at Mohali.

Umesh Yadav, who got to feature in a T20I game after more than three years failed to impress with the ball well against the visitors. Despite picking up two wickets the 34-year-old proved to be rather expensive as India suffered from a 4-wicket loss in the series opener.

The Men in Blue had posted a massive target of 208, riding on the fantastic performances of KL Rahul (55), Suryakumar Yadav (41) and all-rounder Hardik Pandya who remained not out after smashing 71 runs in Mohali.  However, Australia managed to down India’s total with four balls to spare. It was the second-highest successful chase in the shortest format of the game.

While Yadav returned with figures of two wickets for 27 in two overs Harshal Patel conceded 49 runs in his full quota with Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s figures reading as 4-0-52-0. Citing the poor outing by India’s pace bowling trio, questions were raised over the team selection.

Will Umesh Yadav retain his spot?

Former India pacer Ashish Nehra was vocal in stating that Chahar should have played over Yadav in the first T20I. He feels that Chahar, who is kept on standby for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in Australia should have featured over Yadav at Mohali.

Speaking on Cricbuzz, Nehra questioned the team selection and said, “Why is Umesh Yadav playing? You brought Shami and then you had Deepak Chahar. You said Bumrah wasn’t fit, I would also like to know why you didn’t play Deepak Chahar. There was a time when Chahar was the frontrunner to replace Bhuvneshwar Kumar. If Deepak Chahar was fit to play and Umesh Yadav has played ahead of him, then confusion to zaroor hai.”

It is also worth noting that Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the first T20I clash is likely to walk straight back in India’s playing XI for the second T20I clash. The speedster has been a key player for India who boasts the ability to swing the new ball while being highly effective in the death overs too. 

His inclusion would sort out major problems for the hosts giving the much-needed balance to the bowling attack as India look to get back on the winning ways. With Bumrah, Harshal Patel and Bhuvneshwar Kumar being India’s first choice bowlers at the ICC T20 World Cup, Umesh Yadav expected to make way in the second T20.

Apart from Yadav, one off Kumar or Patel could also be benched to rope in Chahar as well for the Nagpur clash.  It remains  interesting to see what Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma have in mind for India’s upcoming clash against Australia. 

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