Virat Kohli backs Umesh Yadav for Australia Tests after 10-wicket haul vs West Indies
Hyderabad: Skipper Virat Kohli Sunday said paceman Umesh Yadav was likely to feature in India's XI during the upcoming tour of Australia after his heroics in the West Indies Test series sweep.
Yadav claimed his maiden 10-wicket match haul to help the world's top Test side thrash West Indies by 10 wickets inside three days of the second Test in Hyderabad.
Yadav's heroics stood out after he lost his pace partner in Shardul Thakur due to a groin strain, returning career-best figures of 6-88 in the first innings.
He was equally menacing in the second West Indies innings as his four wickets were instrumental in the tourists being bowled out for 127 in just 46.1 overs.
Kohli was quick to admit that the muscular Yadav has done good before the all-important Australia tour starting November. The first of the four Tests begins in Adelaide on December 6.
"Umesh is right up there to be featuring in Australia," Kohli told reporters.
"He has got the pace, he has the got the fitness levels to run in all day, picks up wickets at crucial times and he gets good bounce as well," he said.
Yadav has taken 117 wickets in 40 Tests with an economy rate of 3.58 since making his debut against West Indies in 2011 at Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla ground.
His ability to work up pace of over 140 kmph and decent seam movement always makes him the captain's pick for home and away tours.
"Not many people realise but he is a very, very talented bowler. He can bowl you unplayable deliveries every now and then which we experience in the nets all the time," said Kohli.
"I think bowling is something that we need to keep as a major strength for us in order for us to feel that we have a chance to win series when we travel away from home as well. I think these guys are taking responsibility well."
The 30-year-old Yadav is part of India's growing pace pack that is fighting amongst themselves to make a place in the world's top Test side.
Veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah have all featured in recent Indian teams with decent results.
While Sharma led India's charge with 18 wickets in five Tests in England, Shami was not far behind with 16 scalps. India lost the series 4-1 but the pacemen did match steps with the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
"Obviously, all four guys, when they are touching 140 and when they are taking wickets for you, it is obviously something that any captain would like to have," said Kohli.
"It's good to have all guys confident and raring to go. Four Tests in Australia can be brutal because the ball doesn't do much like in England," Kohli opined.
India will play three Twenty20 internationals, four Tests and three one-dayers in Australia.
