Umesh Yadav has "created new benchmark" for the speedsters, said India’s fielding coach Ramakrishnan Sridhar, after the Vidarbha fast bowler took a blinder of a catch to dismiss Corey Anderson in India’s first ODI against New Zealand.
Commenting on the fielders in the deep in the current set-up, Sridhar said Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja have “powerful rocket arms and can throw from anywhere with accuracy”.
It’s good to have fast bowlers in the side who are good athletes. Umesh has a very good arm and similarly Shami is also a good athlete. Umesh is an exception not only because of yards he put in the field but also because of his catching. That’s probably given him the edge and created new benchmark as far as fast bowler fielders are concerned.R Sridhar, Indian Fielding Coach
Asked about who has the most powerful arm from the deep in this current set-up, Sridhar named Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja.
Jaddu and Virat are the names that come to mind. They have powerful rocket arms and can throw from anywhere with accuracy. In terms of strength and fitness, all fast bowlers like Umesh have powerful arms. In January during Australia series, Umesh effected a run out from 80 metres.R Sridhar
India Needs More Multi-Specialist Fielders
Sridhar said as per the wish of limited-over skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, coach Anil Kumble and Test captain Kohli, the team aimed at getting more multi-specialist fielders than single dimension ones.
People like Ajinkya and Virat are more than utility fielders. In ODIs, one needs to suffocate run flow and make batsmen work hard for runs. That’s what people like Manish, Virat, Ajinkya do, even Axar when Jadeja is not there.R Sridhar
After a complete 3-0 whitewash of the three-match test series against New Zealand, India won their first ODI in Dharamshala on 16 October. The next ODI in the five-match series will be played in Delhi on 20 October.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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