Daredevil Umesh Yadav to join Indian team for T20 WC

New Delhi, May 7: Delhi Daredevils pace bowler Umesh Yadav, was called in for the Indian squad in the ongoing World Twenty20 being played in the West Indies.

The Nagpur-based right-arm fast bowler, who plays for Vidarbha, was selected as the replacement for Praveen Kumar, who was ruled out on Thursday because to an abdominal muscle strain.
Yadav, a coalminer’s son, was initially not in the list of 30 probables announced a month before the tournament.

The other Delhi Daredevils players in the squad are Gautam Gambhir, Ashish Nehra and Dinesh Karthik.
“I am stunned at the news,” said Yadav, who was asked by the Board to report in Mumbai, from where the formalities will be completed before he leaves for West Indies.
Yadav impressed with his pace and accuracy in the seven matches he played for the Delhi Daredevils in IPL-III. He took six wickets, but his energy and pace attracted a great deal of attention. He bowled consistently at speed of over 140 Kmh.
 “It was my performance in the IPL that boosted my confidence, but selection to the national team never crossed my mind,” he said. “Still I am very happy and will make the best of this chance.”
On his leaving for West Indies, which is known as the home of pace bowling, Yadav added, “It's been just eight days since I returned home from the IPL and again I have to travel. Having said that, my family is even more happier than me right now.”
Yadav made his cricketing debut for Air India in the All-India Invitation Tournament of 2008-09, making two appearances in this two-day, 100-over competition. The following month he played for Vidarbha Cricket Association XI in the Buchi Babu Invitation Tournament - a two-day, 90-over competition.
He was then selected for Vidarbha Under-22s in the CK Naduyu trophy, and, in November 2008, he made his first-class debut in the Ranji Trophy. Yadav took 4-72 in the first innings of the match.
He was drafted into the Delhi Daredevils Franchise of IPL in 2010.