Making his presence felt in yet another clinical win over Sri Lanka after a four-wicket haul, Indian pacer Umesh Yadav is not taking his Australia berth for granted and said that consistency is the key to book a World Cup ticket.
"It is difficult to say that I am a certainty for the World Cup. I hope the selectors take a note of my performance and reward me with a regular place in the side.," said Umesh in the post-match press conference after the hosts' six-wicket win in the third ODI at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium at Uppal.
Umesh, who is the leading bowler in the series so far with eight wickets in three matches, led the charge in the third ODI along side young spinner Axar Patel (3-40) to restrict Sri Lanka to 242 all out that paved the way for India taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
'I am focusing on every single game'
The bowler though is keeping his fingers crossed for the future.
"I am focusing on every single game. Taking each game at a time because I know that a good performance in each game will take me that much closer to securing a World Cup berth. The decision lies in the hands of selectors, my job is to perform and make my team win," said Umesh.
"The wicket was good. In overcast conditions it did offer help to the bowlers and we made good use of it. Though the wicket slowed down but the carry did help the bowlers to get their seam position right," said the 25-year-old seamer. Showing a steady graph in the series against Sri Lanka, Umesh, who picked up two wickets in the first ODI and got two again at Motera, said he is learning with every passing game.
"I have been playing at the top level for quite sometime and I have learnt from my performances. Have observed myself over a period time and have learnt to vary my length according to the condition. I try and pitch it up, forcing the batsman to play. So I have worked on my grey areas," Umesh said.
'I know that every wicket is important'
I have also learnt to control my pace. Today I bowled a touch slower but the control was there. Sometimes concentrating on pace I tend to forget the length and bowl fuller. But now I have learnt to focus on keeping a balance," he added.
Umesh admitted that getting the dangerous Kumar Sangakkara out for a duck was satisfying as a bowler but stressed the need and demand to treat every wicket as the same.
"Of course, getting batsman of the stature of Sangakkara is a great feeling but as a fast bowler I know that every wicket is important for the team to win," he said.
'Virat is becoming very-much like Mahi bhai'
The bowler did not fall into the trap of comparing Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli as leaders but praised both the captains.
"Virat is always cool as ever. Mahi (Dhoni) bhai is very mature and Virat is becoming very-much like him. My equation with both of them is good. They also think alike and give a lot of importance to the bowlers. So it's a win-win situation under both of them," he smiled.
With India already enjoying an unassailable 3-0 lead, Umesh said that the mood in the camp is ecstatic.
"We are happy that we have won the series. The team has performed well as a unit. The batsmen and the bowlers have done their bit and that is what is important," he concluded.
