Picture Credit: IPL
Indian pacer Umesh Yadav was picked by the two-time IPL Champion Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2022 Mega Auction for the base price of Rs 2 Crore. The Nagpur-born pacer was part of the 2014 KKR team that lifted the IPL title after defeating the then Kings XI Punjab in a thrilling encounter in Bengaluru. But this season, Yadav believes the Knight Riders could replicate that performance and win the elusive trophy for the third time.
Last season, Kolkata managed to surprise everyone as they reached the final but failed to defeat MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings. In a recent interview with the Times of India, Umesh Yadav opened up many things, among which was the thought of winning the IPL this season.
He talked about how KKR has a great pace battery with Pat Cummins and Tim Southee, bowlers who he has played with in the past. “I have already played with Pat Cummins. We shared the dressing room when I was with Delhi. We had a good time. When I joined RCB, Tim Southee was there. So, I have played with both of them before. Both are really amazing and talented bowlers”, opined Yadav.
“KKR have got a solid bowling attack and we have got a big chance to lift the trophy this time. Southee is playing a lot of white-ball cricket. Cummins plays all formats. Both are amazing bowlers. It is going to be fun. I am eager to share the ball with both of them and win as many matches for KKR as possible.”
He also talked about how he wants to make comeback on the international circuit by maximizing the opportunities in the IPL. He expressed, “This is a great thing that happened to me that I joined KKR again. I am hoping to play as many games for KKR as possible and send out a message that I am a white-ball cricketer too.”