Photo via India Today

At 38, Umesh Yadav takes five for new team Punjab after two-year Ranji Trophy gap

Veteran India pacer Umesh Yadav made a high-impact return to first-class cricket after a two-year absence, delivering a five-wicket haul for Punjab in their Ranji Trophy clash against Assam. The 38-year-old, who last played a Ranji match in December 2024, took 5 for 70 across two days at the PCA International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, including early breakthroughs with opener Rishav Das and No.

3 Rajveer Singh before finishing off Assam’s tail on Day 2. His performance marked a strong debut for Punjab, where he joined as a guest player this season after leaving Vidarbha, where he had spent most of his domestic career since 2008.

The move comes as Punjab aims to compete for the Ranji Trophy title, and Yadav’s experience proved crucial in restricting Assam to 373, despite centuries from captain Danish Das and Sibsankar Roy. His return follows a lengthy injury layoff, including surgery for an Achilles tendon issue in 2024 and a year-long rehabilitation period before his comeback in last year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Vidarbha.

Punjab’s young fast bowler Gurnoor Brar also contributed with 23 overs, as the pair stifled Assam’s momentum in a high-stakes encounter.

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