Playing his first match in first-class cricket since October 2024, Umesh Yadav is back like he was never away. Bowling on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season on his Punjab debut, 38-year-old Yadav turned back the clock with bowling figures of 5/70 in 24 overs in the first innings, before another lethal 2/11 in nine overs in the second innings.

Four of those seven wickets beat the batter's defence to knock over the stumps, in a sight that is famously a fast bowler's delight.

“As a bowler, the sound and the sight of the ball hitting the stumps is a great feeling,” Umesh told BCCI.tv.

Umesh looked at his very best with the red ball in hand. However, the road to comeback was far from easy. The India pacer suffered a serious Achilles tendon injury that forced him to spend a year on the sidelines before playing three matches for Vidarbha in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in late 2025.

“Whenever you get a big injury, the mental aspect becomes very important,” Umesh said. “Even when you become fit physically, you can still go into a negative mindset where you feel like a year has been wasted and you start doubting whether you can make a comeback. In that situation, discipline is the most important thing.”

Umesh admitted to having major doubts after suffering such an injury at the age of 37, before highlighting the biggest factor in his recovery, both mentally and physically.

“During that phase, my wife Tanya supported me a lot,” he said. “She told me that I need to give myself enough time after coming back from injury, and that I still have a lot of cricket left in me. She reminded me that I was doing the right things for my recovery and urged me to keep moving forward.”

“I kept focusing on my fitness and bowling and I am here today because of that discipline and work ethic,” the Nagpur native added.

That discipline and work ethic have played a key role in Yadav’s illustrious career during which he has taken 288 wickets in 141 international matches for India and was part of the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 winning squad.

He now brings that experience and expertise to the Punjab side, after having represented Vidarbha for 18 years. While players going on to represent other states is a common occurrence, Umesh’s move to Punjab is historic as he became the first-ever guest player signed by Punjab. “They (Punjab) needed the kind of bowler who can come and express himself, and also share his experience with the youngsters about fast bowling.

“The boys are keen on learning something new about their action, bowling, rhythm, run-up, and everything,” Umesh expressed when asked about his experience so far with the Punjab team. “They ask me a lot of questions. I’m also trying to share ideas with them and if that helps them, I’m quite happy.”

Umesh’s presence in the dressing room is not only important for young pacers looking to make their mark and reach the next level, but also for the likes of Gurnoor Brar, who recently made his India debut and has already featured in nine ODIs.

“Gurnoor Brar has that experience now and is even part of the India set-up. So he knows very well what situations he could face in games,” Umesh highlighted. “But he is also still learning and he keeps chatting with me on ways he can keep improving and getting more consistent, and asks me about mindset among other things. We want to try and do something special for Punjab.”

Back playing first-class cricket, Umesh aims to keep moving forward. But above all, the love for the game is what keeps him going, just a few days short of his 39th birthday.

“My only goal is to enjoy my cricket while staying fit and disciplined,” Umesh highlighted. “That is also the aim with which I started playing cricket in the first place. I want to feel that happiness and joy of playing the game, especially now that I’ve got the chance to play again after a while on the sidelines.”

“After all the pressure I’ve been through and work I have put in to make a comeback, I do not want to take any kind of pressure of getting somewhere. I have already played and represented India at the highest level.”

Umesh wants to “stay in the present” while focusing on peak performance. In the present, the man who once tore through world-class batting line-ups, is back firing and he is only getting started again.

- By Aayush Majumdar