IPL 2024: Umesh Yadav excited to bowl alongside 2015 World Cup squad members Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma

Add as a preferred source on Google

IPL 2024: Umesh Yadav, who was bought by Gujarat Titans (GT) for Rs 5.80 crore in the IPL 2024 auction, is excited to bowl alongside his old friends Umesh Yadav and Mohit Sharma.

The 36-year-old is also looking forward to playing under the guidance of Gujarat Titans (GT) head coach Ashish Nehra. He praised Nehra and his methods of training players and managing the dressing room atmosphere.

Umesh Yadav has said that he knew that the IPL Auction 2024 would go well for him as several teams were looking out for Indian fast bowlers. Umesh would tag along with his 2015 World Cup squad members Shami and Mohit at the Gujarat Titans.

"My recent experiences at the auction have been quite bad because I went unsold in the first two rounds and was picked only in the third round in 2022. But I am very happy now. The main thing for me was to get picked.

"I know all the teams were looking out for Indian fast bowlers, so I knew I would go somewhere, but to go to a team where Ashish Nehra is the coach is great. I have worked with him previously and know the way he trains players and the way he manages the atmosphere in the dressing room," he told JioCinema.

"It’s been quite a while since Shami, Mohit Sharma and me were part of the 2015 World Cup squad. Those memories are coming back. The way Shami is bowling now, I feel we will have a lot of fun. We have had a partnership with the red ball and I feel he will be bowling with the new ball. So, we will have to work on strategies for the middle overs," he added.

Further, Umesh Yadav also talked about challenges of playing for a new franchise. He said getting used to a new team in IPL is always tough as one has to adapt as per the new team management and environment.

"I played for Delhi and KKR for six years each. So, definitely it’s tough because you have to start all over again. You have to deal with a new management, new team, and a new environment.

"So, all these factors have to be considered. I take some time to open up to people. But I feel this will be the best team for me because Shami and Mohit are there. They are my old friends and we’ll get a chance to play together," Umesh Yadav, who last played for India in the WTC final 2023, said.