New Delhi: Sun Risers Hyderabad pacer Dale Steyn says he is a "big fan" of Umesh Yadav and predicted that in coming years the Indian bowler would be one to look up to.
Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Umesh, who has represented India in 12 Tests and 48 ODIs, bagged 18 wickets in eight World Cup games to be behind Mitchell Starc (22) and Trent Boult (22) in the bowlers list. Steyn, who is set to appear in his eight IPL season, is quick to compare Umesh with himself.
"I have been a big fan of Yadav. I am a fast bowler, I really like fast bowlers. Umesh Yadav has got a very similar kind of physique as myself. We are both quite short, we are similar in height. He is stronger than I am and he has got a strong action and swings the ball.
"As the years go on, Umesh is going to be one of those guys that you can look up to. He can be a really really good Test bowler too. He has got the action to land the ball in the right areas. Swing the ball away at high pace," Steyn told PTI in an interview.
Steyn was taken for quite a few runs in the 50-over showpiece event and South Africa also failed to cross the semi-final hurdle. But the speedster was impressed with the Indian pacers and Mahendra Singh Dhoni's captaincy.
"Led by Dhoni, a fantastic captain with great ideas, they had great plans during the World Cup and they did extremely well to reach the semis considering that they struggled in the early part of the Australian summer.
"They also bowled the yorkers very well. They used the short ball well in Australia but I am not sure how that's going to work in India. The fields are slightly smaller and the pitches slower but these bowlers are very very good," he said.
Ishant Sharma is another pacer that ranks high in Steyn's praise list. Enjoying the SRH dressing room with Ishant, Steyn said that notwithstanding his injuries, the lanky pacer is one good fast bowler.
"That's a life of a fast bowler. Sometimes it (injuries) just happens. Fast bowling is not a natural thing. Ishant has struggled with a few injuries. But when he is injury free he is a freak of a bowler. He can do some amazing things with a cricket ball. He is tall, he has got good pace, he hits the deck, he has got a slightly different action so he brings the ball in with his wrist. He has all things that can add up to be a very good fast bowler," Steyn said.
"He just needs to spend some more time on the cricket field. And that's how the body is some guys struggle with injuries while others are injury free. And I think he understands that, he appreciates that. When he is on the field you can expect good things from him," he added.
