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Learnt a lot from Morne - Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav, the Delhi Daredevils fast bowler, has said the tournament is an ideal platform for players looking to come in to national reckoning

ESPNcricinfo staff
16-Apr-2011
Umesh Yadav, the Delhi Daredevils fast bowler whose IPL performance last season earned him an India call-up, has said the tournament is an ideal platform for players looking to come in to the reckoning for national selection. "A lot of pacers are competing for places in the Indian team. I was chosen for the 2010 World Twenty20 in the West Indies after Praveen [Kumar] got injured," Umesh told PTI. "I also went to Zimbabwe and South Africa. All that came after playing in the IPL, so it has been a very good outing for me.
"Good performance here in the IPL could go a long way. There are lot of big tours coming up. So I want to do well and find a place."
Umesh debuted for Vidarbha in 2008 but came in to the limelight during last year's IPL, when he impressed with his pace and bounce while playing for Delhi. The performance led to him being flown to the West Indies as a replacement for the injured Praveen during the World Twenty20. Later he was named in the Indian squad for the tour of South Africa.
Delhi have a strong fast-bowling line-up led by Morne Morkel and Yadav said that he had learnt a lot from the South Africa fast bowler. "We have a good pace attack with Morkel, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Varun Aaron and myself, so there is a healthy competition. He [Morkel] is taller than me and has extra bounce. But he has also told me that more than pace and bounce, one has to bowl the right line and length. I have also spoken to him about theory of fast bowling and it has been a great experience."
Delhi take on Pune at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, on Sunday, where the wicket has offered good bounce for fast bowlers. Umesh said he was looking forward to bowling on the surface. "The wicket at D Y Patil is good. It is important for us to come back and we all will be giving more than 100% tomorrow."
Virender Sehwag has been an encouraging captain, Yadav said. "He always says, 'Jo karo dil se karo, baaki sab theek hai' (Whatever you do, do it from the heart, rest is fine). He makes you think and bowl at your best even at the nets."