It was an eventful opening day in the second Test between India and the West Indies at Hyderabad.

In a see-saw battle, honours were shared equally as the visitors posted 295-7 at stumps after electing to bat first.

Umesh Yadav was the star of the show with the ball for India on Friday and picked up three important wickets. Here, we take a closer look at the India pacer’s display on day one.

STATISTICS

OVERS BOWLED: 23

RUNS CONCEDED: 83

WICKETS: 3

MAIDENS: 2

ECONOMY-RATE: 3.60

30-SECOND REPORT

India fielded a two-man pace attack for the Test but that was quickly reduced to just one after Shardul Thakur broke down in his very second over. Leading India’s pace charge all by himself, Umesh ensured it was the hosts who took the honours in the first session by striking with the last delivery before lunch to trap a well-set Shai Hope lbw. He provided another much needed breakthrough in the second session by trapping Shane Dowrich with some sharp reverse swing. India were about to endure a wicketless final session following Roston Chase and Jason Holder’s century stand but Umesh gave India something to smile about by dismissing the latter in the 90th over of the innings.

GOT RIGHT

Despite it being a typical subcontinent day one track at Hyderabad with not much assistance for the pacers, Umesh stuck to his task by always attacking the batsman. The 30-year-old’s workload was drastically increased by Thakur’s injury but his mantra of always trying to look for wickets paid off in the form of three crucial scalps. While the wicket of Holder might have come through in lucky fashion, there was no luck involved in Umesh’s dismissals of Hope and Dowrich. For the former, his tendency to attack the stumps paid off while it was excellent use of reverse swing that did the latter.

GOT WRONG

Bowling 23 overs on a subcontinent pitch can be a thankless task for a pacer and it was no surprise that weariness and fatigue took its toll on Umesh at times. The right-armed bowler was guilty of straying too much in his lines at times and it allowed the Windies batsmen some quick and easy runs.

The Delhi fast-bowler’s attacking intent can pay off in the form of wickets but also runs the risks of leaking runs as shown by his economy-rate.

VERDICT – 8/10

For the last couple of years or so, Umesh has been a stalwart for India on home conditions. He might have been usurped by Jasprit Bumrah in the pecking order for overseas conditions but there is no denying that Umesh remains a handy weapon for lifeless subcontinent pitches.

On Friday, he was required to shoulder the burden of two pacers with Thakur’s injury but he bowled thanklessly with a lot of heart throughout the day. In the end, the three wickets were just reward for the pacer’s tireless efforts and his late wicket of Holder will give India a tremendous boost going into day two.