Umesh to pick up from he where left off, four months ago

[rkt.india]

Team India may have recorded quite the perfect report-card during their 4-0 drubbing of Australia in the recently concluded Test series. They did, however, seem to miss the fiery pace and penetration of their express fast bowler Umesh Yadav, whenever the visitors' tail wagged and put up irritating partnerships, which was quite often. After being away for four months with a stress reaction to his lower back, the 25-year-old Vidarbha pacer made a much-awaited comeback to competitive cricket during the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament presently underway in Indore. And Yadav made an immediate impact by snaring figures of 5/18 in less than three overs against Odisha. Here, he speaks to The Indian Express about his return from injury, his recovery and how he's been coping with his extended spell away from the game. Excerpts: Is this the most perfect comeback you could have imagined? I'm happy with the way I bowled and these five wickets certainly gave me a lot of confidence. It's not easy to come and bowl after four months. This was my first competitive game after a long gap. I didn't quite bowl at full tilt or at full pace and was rather concentrate solely on holding a consistent line around off-stump. How worried were you about your back while bowling? I was worried for sure. I will admit that there was some insecurity at the back of my mind. It's natural though as I was playing cricket after a lengthy gap. I didn't bowl with great effort. My focus was on getting my rhythm back, which is crucial for a pace bowler. With the Indian Premier League (IPL) coming up, how are you planning to deal with the hectic workload, especially with regards to maintaining your fitness? The IPL schedule is quite taxing and hectic. But for now, I'm looking at it as ideal preparation for the long international season ahead for the Indian team. This will help me get back into the flow without putting excess load on the body. Had I returned in the 50-over format or the four-day format, I would have had to bowl at least 10 overs in a day. That could have been too much strain on my body. By the time the IPL gets over, I would have bowled some 100-odd overs against quality batting line-ups, which should get my body warmed up perfectly. Have you set any immediate goals? The goal is to come back fitter and better than before. I just want to start from where I left off. I was bowling well against England but the stress reaction on my back has kept me away from cricket. There is plenty of cricket coming up. I just want to enjoy bowling fast. That's what I love doing the most. The time away was frustrating but the physios had insisted that I don't rush myself into getting back on the field. How did you deal with your time away from the game? It was very irritating because playing cricket is all I like doing. The first two months, I did nothing. Just chilled at home, helping my family with their domestic work. The last two months though I have spent some quality time at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. From bell-boys to random people at the airport, many have asked me about my absence from the Indian team. Though I've gotten tired of telling them why, it does feel good to know that you're missed. Have you been following the Indian team's fortunes over the four months you've been away? Yes, I have been. And at times, when wickets haven't come our way, I have felt like if only I was there. I'm glad about being back in action. It is a great relief. I started bowling only last week. I began with bowling off four steps then pushed it up to eight and 12 before regaining my full run-up. A good show in the IPL is sure to help you earn a comeback to the Indian team. Making a comeback to the Indian team is my ultimate goal. There is the Champions Trophy in England first. I've never played in England and I'm hoping to board the flight for that tournament come June.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/umesh-to-pick-up-from-he-where-left-off-four-months-ago/1094669/1