'KKR is a lucky team for me' - Umesh Yadav ahead of IPL 2022

Indian and Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Umesh Yadav is looking forward to join his previous franchise ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season. To note, KKR managed to lift the IPL title when Yadav was a part of the squad during the 2014 edition.

The now 34-year-old has not managed to do well in last few seasons of the tournament and also went unsold in the IPL 2021 auction. However, the two-time champions KKR showed faith in the express pacer as they spent INR 2 crore to bag his services in the mega auction last month. The right-arm pacer will now be looking to repay the faith shown in him.

‘Feeling great to be back’ – Umesh Yadav on joining KKR

Speaking in a video shared by the franchise on their official Instagram account, the pacer emphasised that the aim for him will be to win the trophy again.

“Feeling great to be back! We won the cup in 2014. The memories with KKR have been great. I am delighted to be back. Because KKR has given me that experience of winning a trophy so you can say that KKR is a lucky team for me. My family is here with me and even my baby, Hunarr is here, I rarely get bored when she is around so these three days of quarantine will pass easily,” said Yadav in the video.

“I am also feeling good about my fitness. So looking forward to the season and to be doing the best I can for KKR and the aim will be to win the trophy,” he added.

With Australian pacer Pat Cummins unavailable for the first few games due to Australia’s ongoing series against Pakistan, it will be interesting to see whether KKR will give him a chance immediately. Talking about Yadav’s IPL numbers, the 34-year-old has played 121 IPL matches in which he has scalped 119 wickets at an average of 30.08. The right-arm pacer has an economy of 8.51.