Umesh Yadav leaves Vidarbha after 17 years, signs for Punjab

Nagpur: India's veteran fast bowler Umesh Yadav has begun a new phase of his domestic career. After about 17 years with Vidarbha, he has signed with the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) for the coming season.

Umesh, who turns 39 soon, said on Wednesday that his contract with Punjab was done. He said he took the decision because he wanted to be with a strong team in domestic cricket and was not willing to join a "minor" side.

Umesh said, "I have signed a contract with Punjab and I am grateful to the PCA management for giving me the chance to play for their team." He also thanked the association for the fact that, in the PCA's 34-year history, he is the first professional cricketer to be taken into the team.

Speaking about the time after he left Vidarbha, Umesh said, "I was looking for a big team that was doing well on the domestic circuit. I was playing for a good team like Vidarbha, there is no doubt about that. But after I left Vidarbha, there was talk in the corridors of the VCA that Umesh would only get a chance in some small team, perhaps a team from the North East. I decided I would join a team that is strong and doing well."

Umesh has 124 first-class matches and 380 wickets to his name. He says he has a lot left in him. He said, "I know how much cricket I have left in me and I will give 100 per cent for Punjab."

Umesh also spoke openly of his displeasure with the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA), particularly over how he was treated after a foot injury that required surgery. He said, "When I got injured, the association ignored me. After I recovered, it gave me no chance to prove myself. Last season I was picked neither in the one-day side nor in any other format."

According to Umesh, he needed time to regain his rhythm after the surgery. He flatly rejected the suggestion that playing fewer matches meant his career was ending. He said, "I am not Superman who will come back and take a bagful of wickets straightaway. I played two Ranji matches and did well in one of them. That does not mean I am finished."

Umesh also claims that, before the coaching and selection setup took its decisions, no one in the association spoke to him about his future. He said, "That atmosphere was not right for me, I was not comfortable in it. Nobody sat down and talked to me. That is why I decided to go to a team that is more adaptive."

Umesh is expected to take on a bigger responsibility at Punjab. The team's main fast bowlers, Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar, are likely to be on India duty for a large part of the domestic season. Umesh said he knew this situation when he joined Punjab and is ready to lead the young bowling attack.

He said, "Punjab is a state where cricketers are hungry for success. I knew Arshdeep and Gurnoor would be on India duty and would not be available through the whole domestic season. So my job will be to carry the young bowling unit along and share my international experience with the team."

Umesh has played 57 Tests and 75 one-day internationals for India and has taken 170 Test wickets. His arrival is also a big change for the PCA, since the association has generally trusted players from its own system.

Umesh said, "More than feeling proud, I am grateful to the PCA for giving me the chance. I approached them very late, because several other states were talking to me. I am thankful to the PCA for giving me the opportunity in such a short time." Umesh turns 39 on October 25.