Youngsters need to be better than us to get into national side: Umesh

There is no dearth of talent in India but the youngsters have a fair idea that they have to be better than the existing bunch of seasoned campaigners to break into the national side, reckons senior pacer Umesh Yadav.

The Vidarbha speedster feels that the current lot has gained rich experience over the years and is setting the benchmark for the next batch of players.

"Most of the boys in this set-up, at least 7-8 have played 40 plus Tests. So when the youngsters, who are coming up, see the kind of hard yards seniors are putting in, it's not easy for them. They know that they need to get better than us to be in the side," Umesh said after the match.

Umesh savoured a six-wicket match-haul in India's big win in the second Test but he knows that it's not a great position to be the fourth choice pacer in the side when Jasprit Bumrah is available.

"It's not in my hands. I can't say that I will play all Test matches. All the bowlers are doing well, there is a healthy competition and everyone will get their chances at some point or other. I am ready for that and that's my mindset."
"We bowled in short spells and we were not tired at all. All the bowlers said that we would like to go out there and finish the job. We didn't want a break and let batsmen bat for some time and stretch it."