Could not get recruitment in Army and Police, did not get place in college cricket team, then became the star bowler of Team India.

Umesh Yadav turns 37. (Photo: PTI)

Umesh Yadav is celebrating his 37th birthday today i.e. on 25th October. Nagpur-born Umesh has played for the Indian team for 13 years and is counted among the star bowlers. You will be surprised to know that at the age when many cricketers start playing for Team India at some level, he had just started playing with the leather ball. Actually, at the age of 19, he dreamed of becoming a cricketer and started cricket with leather ball. Before this he used to play cricket with tennis ball. Despite starting so late, he made the journey to reach Team India's dressing room. Let us know his complete story.

There was no recruitment in police and army.

Umesh Yadav was born on 25 October 1987 in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Before starting cricket, he wanted to join the army and police. But fate had something else in store. Actually, Umesh Yadav came from a poor family. His father used to work in coal mining. Therefore, he was determined to get a job at a very young age. Therefore, he took part in the recruitment of Army and Police, but he could not be selected.

After this he started playing cricket at the age of 19. Here too a problem arose for him. His college cricket team refused to play him because he did not play for any club. Still Umesh did not give up and in 2007 joined Vidarbha Gymkhana Club, which was affiliated to Vidarbha Cricket Association.

Made debut in 2011

Umesh Yadav was known for pace from the beginning. He benefited from this and got a chance to make his first class debut within a year of starting cricket with leather ball. In November 2008, he made his debut in Ranji Trophy against Madhya Pradesh. However, he got a chance to play only 4 matches in the entire season. During this period, he took 20 wickets at an excellent average of 14.

Seeing his lethal bowling, he was also selected for the 2008-09 season of Duleep Trophy and he faced batsmen like VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid. After this, within a year he got a place in India's ODI team and he made his debut against Zimbabwe in 2010. He made his Test debut in 2011 and T20 debut in 2012. Made his IPL debut in 2010.

Umesh's career was like this

Umesh Yadav played for the Indian team for 13 years. He played the last international match in 2023 against Australia at the Oval. He could not perform anything special in this final of the World Test Championship. He could take only 2 wickets in the entire match. Let us tell you that Umesh has taken 170 wickets in 57 Tests for India, while he has taken 106 wickets in 75 ODI matches and 12 wickets in 9 T20 matches. Umesh Yadav has taken a total of 380 wickets in his first class career, 194 in List A and 201 in T20.