By Anupam Soni HAVING earned his nickname ‘Vidarbha Express’for starting his career turning up for Vidarbha in domestic cricket and being among fastest bowlers in the country, Umesh Yadav has decided to part ways with the former two-time Ranji Trophy champions. The senior fast bowler,who will be 39 years in 35 days (on October 25) and presently out of favour from Indian selectors,has decided to move on from Vidarbhaahead of the upcoming domestic season. “Yes, he approached us for NOC (No Objection Certificate) saying that he has offers from other State associations and that he wants to play for other team from this season. He did not name any particular association he would be playing for.We have very good crop of young fast bowlers and his absence will mean an opportunity for them,”said Sanjay Badkas,Secretary, Vidarbha Cricket Association,whileconfirming the news to ‘The Hitavada’. Yadav was definitely an important cog in Vidarbha’s wheel during their many triumphs since making his debut during the 2008–09 season. Yadav played ahuge role in Vidarbha’s historic back-tobackRanjiTrophy titles (2017- 18 and 2018-19). The fast bowler delivered when it was needed the most. On manyoccasions, he would prise out the best batter from the opponents.His rawpace from one end kept therival batsmen on toes and even if they negotiated him, bowlers from the other end would become the beneficiary.

 

Hiscareer-best First-Class bowling figures (7-48and 5- 31)againstKeralainRanjisemis (2018–19) at Wayanad singlehandedly droveVidarbha into the final.He claimedadomestichat-trick during a4-wicket haul against Rajasthan in November 2015. He was not a rabbit with the bat. He hit his maiden First-Class century (128 off 119 balls) playing for Vidarbha against Odisha in October 2015. Yadav also gavehis best in theListA(VijayHazareTrophy) and domestic T20s (Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy). He made history by becoming the first player from Vidarbha to play Test cricket for India. He made his India debutagainst West Indies at Delhi on November 6, 2011. After playing against Australia at The Oval in June,2023, he has not turned up for the national side inTest cricket.In all, he played 57 Tests,taking 170 wickets with three fivewickethaulsandoneten-wicket match haul. He also played 75One-DayInternationalsand nine T20Is. May be his serving as the League Ambassador for the inaugural Vidarbha ProT20 League in 2025, his commentarydebut earlier in 2026 and not much cricket in between, put him off the national selectors’radar. Yadav could not be reached despite several attempts to knowfromhimhis futureplans.