Virat Kohli is a fast bowler’s captain – Umesh Yadav

Royal Challengers Bangalore fast bowler Umesh Yadav has revealed that Virat Kohli is a fast bowler’s captain. Kohli has played a key role in strengthening India’s pace battery and Yadav feels Kohli’s aggressive captaincy suits the fast bowlers. As Kohli is always looking for wickets, the fast bowlers can look to attack rather than defend.

Kohli has always put his weight behind the fast bowlers and he is known to back them to the hilt. It is noticed that Kohli likes to play with an extra seamer in the overseas conditions, which has helped India to do well.

India’s current crop of fast bowlers is the best in the world and Kohli has played a key role in the development of the pacers. Kohli likes to take the bull by its horns and he has shown more trust in his fast bowlers than his spinners.

“Virat [Kohli] is a fast-bowler’s captain,” Umesh told Sportstar from the UAE, where he is training with the RCB squad for IPL 2020.

“His aggressive brand of captaincy suits the team in all formats. Fast-bowlers, especially in Twenty20 cricket, enter with an aggressive mindset. It is about maintaining an attacking attitude and not a defensive one. When you are always looking to take wickets, your head is in the right place.” 

Meanwhile, Umesh Yadav has done well in the home conditions and has played a key role in the team’s success. However, Yadav hasn’t been able to replicate the same success in the overseas conditions. The fast bowler has the pace in his arsenal but he can be off the mark in his line and length.

RCB have had its bowling woes in the past and they have not been able to come up with a complete performance, especially in the death overs. Ergo, Umesh Yadav would aim to deliver the goods as he has the experience under his belt.

Yadav had scalped eight wickets in 11 matches of IPL 2019 and he would aim to turn the tables. The 32-year old fast bowler has scalped 119 wickets in as many IPL matches.

Umesh will also have the company of an experienced campaigner like Dale Steyn and it would be a great opportunity for him to learn with the best fast bowler of the previous decade.

The IPL will begin from September 19 in the UAE.