IND vs AUS: Umesh Yadav replaces COVID-positive Shami for T20I series

Veteran Indian pacer Umesh Yadav has been named Mohammed Shami’s replacement for the upcoming T20I series against Australia starting Tuesday, September 20. Shami who tested positive for COVID-19, did not travel to Mohali where the series opener is scheduled to be held.

Meanwhile. Umesh Yadav, who has not been in the Indian team’s scheme of things in the white-ball scenario, finally gets a limited-overs call-up after a long time. Umesh last donned the blue jersey back in February 2019. The Nagpur cricketer might not have been a regular member in India’s white-ball set up, but he has been very effective with the ball in hand during the IPL where he provided vital breakthroughs in the powerplay overs.

Umesh Yadav in Indian T20I squad for Australia series

Umesh Yadav, who represented the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2022, finished with 16 scalps to his name from the 12 matches that he got to play at an economy of 7.06. In July, he joined Middlesex to play both first-class as well as List-A matches. Thanks to his impressive performances, the veteran will not get a chance to don the India blue jersey once again.

While the 34-year-old picked up four wickets in six innings in the County Championships, he made a tremendous impact for the club in the Royal London One Day Cup where he finished as the team’s highest wicket-taker. Yadav registered 16 scalps to his name from seven innings averaging 20.25.

It is to be noted that a quad muscle injury meant that Umesh’s season came to an abrupt end. He immediately flew to India where the injury was assessed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team. The senior pacer was all set to return to London to join Middlesex for their next away game against Leicestershire next week, but the medical team made it clear that the bowler has not regained complete fitness. Yadav was scheduled to undergo rehab for his quad injury at Bengaluru’s National Cricket Academy (NCA).

India will be hosting the defending T20 world champions Australia in a three-match series. The games will be played on September 20, 23 and 25 at Mohali, Nagpur and Hyderabad respectively.