Umesh Yadav impresses on his Punjab debut [Source: AFP]Umesh Yadav made instant impact for the Punjab cricket team in the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season. Playing his first match for Punjab after ending his 18-year stint with Vidarbha, the speedster picked up five Assam wickets on Day 2 of their Elite Group B match in New Chandigarh on October 12.Yadav conceded just 70 runs in his 24 overs to pick up his 16th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, and his first for the Punjab side.Umesh Yadav decimates Assam on Punjab debutJust a few weeks ago, Team India discard Umesh Yadav confirmed his decision of shifting his domestic base from Vidarbha to Punjab for the 2026-27 Indian domestic season. The speedster made it to Punjab’s playing XI in their opening Elite Group B match of the tournament against Assam in Mullanpur from October 11 onwards. Sharing the new ball with young paceman Gurnoor Brar, Umesh knocked over Assam opener Rishav Das for an 11-ball duck before dismissing Rajveer Singh for just 11. The 39-year-old cricketer blitzed through Amlanjyoti Das, Mukhtar Hussain and Mohit Thakur to wrap up the Assam innings for 373 in 117 overs.ALSO READIndia Veteran Fast Bowler Makes Big Move, Leaves State Side Ahead Of New Domestic SeasonThe senior fast bowler finished with impressive debut figures of 5-70 for Punjab to notch up his 16th five-fer in first-class cricket. Remarkably, three of Yadav’s five wickets of the innings were ‘clean bowled’, underlining the veteran pacer’s ability to breach the opposition’s defenses with his pace and movement.Why did Umesh Yadav abandon Vidarbha to join Punjab?Umesh Yadav, a veteran of 124 first-class matches, parted ways with Vidarbha cricket after spending nearly two decades with the association. While speaking with Hitavada last month, the cricketer explained that he was on the lookout for a strong team in domestic circuit owing to some rumours he heard about receiving limited opportunities for Vidarbha in the 2026-27 Indian domestic season. He said “I was in search of a big team which is doing well in the domestic circuit. I was playing for a good team, no doubt. But when I left Vidarbha, there were murmurs in VCA corridors that Umesh would only get a chance to play for a small team, like from the Northeast. But I have decided to join a team which is strong and is doing well.”Starting off his new season with a new team on a triumphant note, Umesh Yadav will be aiming to capitalize on his impressive beginning and spearhead Punjab’s campaign with his experience and incisive pace throughout the Ranji Trophy season.ALSO READWhen Was The Last Time Marnus Labuschagne Scored A Century In Test Cricket?
