'Tweaking my bowling grip helped immensely.'
Attributing his recent success to a tweaked bowling grip, India fast bowler Umesh Yadav said it has helped him achieve better control and more consistency in delivering out-swingers.
Umesh destroyed the Bangladesh batting line-up as he finished with a match haul of 8/81, which included a five-wicket haul in the second innings, to set up India's innings and 46-run win in their first ever day-night Test, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday.
"Tweaking my bowling grip helped immensely," Yadav said during a conversation with India opener Rohit Sharma on bcci.tv
Umesh has been in amazing form with the ball since returning to the Indian Test team earlier this year, picking up 23 wickets in four Tests at an average of 13.
"My grip was different earlier so one or two balls will swing while couple of them would either get deflected from the legs or run down the leg side for boundaries as byes, so it was difficult to control in this grip.
"So I spoke to my coaches and also while discussing within ourselves, I felt when I hold the ball properly, I have more control and chances of moving the ball. So my outswinger became consistent and I could also throw in a few inswingers after making that change."
Ishant Sharma, who had claimed five wickets in Bangladesh's first innings and four in the second, said changing his wrist position helped him create angles which made life difficult for the batsmen, especially the left-handers.
"I created angles in my bowling on the basis of my wrist position. If I come round the wicket to the left-hander, it will be more difficult for the batsman," Ishant said.
"Before that, I used to bowl but I couldn't get the edge because it would land on off stumps and would go out. Now I bowl at the stumps, so it becomes difficult for the batsman."
