He made his One Day International (ODI) debut against Zimbabwe in May 2010. The following year in November, Yadav made his Test debut against the West Indies. He was the highest wicket-taker for India and third-highest overall at the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. He holds the record for the highest batting average in an innings in Test cricket after scoring 31 runs in 10 balls with a batting average against South Africa in October 2019 of 310 had scored.

Personal Life and Domestic Career

Before becoming a professional cricketer, Umesh applied unsuccessfully to join the army and police. Yadav attempted to secure a place on the college cricket team but was rejected because he did not play for any club in 2007, having previously only played tennis ball cricket. Yadav joined Vidarbha Gymkhana (VCA affiliated club) and was founded in 1969 by JA Karnewar and first started bowling with a leather ball in Guzder League 'A' Division cricket tournament organized by Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA). Pritam Gandhe, Vidharbha's Ranji Trophy Team Captain, backed Yadav and ensured he represented Air India at a Twenty20 tournament. Of Yadav's early career, Gandhe remarked, "He was raw and headstrong. But he was really fast – too fast. I figured if he lands at least three balls out of six in a line with the stumps, he'll harass batsmen."

On 3 November 2008, Yadav made his first-class debut for Vidarbha against Madhya Pradesh in the 2008–09 Ranji Trophy. His first wicket was that of Himalaya Sagar, bowled; Yadav did not roll in Madhya Pradesh's second innings but in the first he claimed four wickets for 72 carries (4/75) as his team lost by ten wickets. He played in four Ranji matches of Vidarbha this season and took 20 wickets at an average of 14.60 with best numbers of 6/105. Also in the 2008–09 season, Yadav made his one-day debut.

Yadav, who played for Vidarbha, was chosen to represent the Central Zone in his first season at the Duleep Trophy.

On April 16, 2013, Umesh became engaged to Delhi-based fashion designer Tanya Wadhwa and they married on May 29, 2013. Initially, Umesh had problems with family life when his brother was acquitted in a robbery case. His father is from Deoria, UP. In his early years he moved from Jharkhand to Nagpur.

In January 2019, in the first semifinal of the 2018–19 Ranji Trophy against Kerala, he gave up his career best of 7/48 in the first innings and then came back with numbers of 5/31 in the second innings, ending the match with the best Career numbers of 12/79 which Vidarbha sailed to the final of the Ranji Trophy.

Indian Premier League

Umesh Yadav IPL Signed by Delhi Daredevils in 2010, Umesh played four seasons for the franchise. He was the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the 2012 IPL with 19 wickets from 17 games at an average of 23.84.

Prior to the 2014 season, Umesh was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders. He played four seasons for the team before being sacked ahead of the 2018 IPL auction where he was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore. He took 20 wickets from 14 games in 2018. He took eight 8 wickets from 11 games in 2019 and only played in two games in 2020.

Umesh Yadav IPL 2021 Released by RCB ahead of the 2021 IPL auction, Umesh was purchased by Delhi.

Umesh Yadav IPL 2022 In February 2022, he was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders at auction for the 2022 Indian Premier League Tournament.

International Career

In May 2010, Yadav was called up to India's World Twenty20 squad to replace the injured Praveen Kumar, but did not return to the tournament. Later that month he was included in the squad to play a tri-nation ODI series in Zimbabwe against the hosts and Sri Lanka. India sent an understaffed squad with nine regulars who were either rested or injured. Yadav made his ODI debut in the tournament during India's loss to Zimbabwe, a team then ranked tenth by the ICC. Yadav defended a 285 score and threw eight wicketless overs while conceding 48 runs. Yadav played in three matches and took a single wicket.

After the Zimbabwe tri series, Yadav returned to the fringes of the team. He was accepted as a practice bowler when India visited Sri Lanka in July to gain experience bowling for test batsmen. He would have to wait until October 2011 for his next international match. After India toured South Africa in December 2010, Yadav was dropped from the national team.

Yadav returned to the domestic line-up for a five-game ODI series against England in September 2011. An injury to his left hand meant Yadav missed the last two ODIs. Sometimes expensive but regularly fast, he managed four wickets with a three-game average of 38.25.

When the West Indies went on tour in November 2011, the Indian selectors opted to swap out the team's fast bowlers. Sreesanth and Praveen Kumar have been dropped from the squad and Yadav and Varun Aaron have been selected for their performances in the ODIs against England earlier in the year. Yadav made his Test debut in the first match, opening bowling alongside Ishant Sharma in the first innings despite failing to take a wicket. In the second innings, the spinners opened the bowling and Yadav took two wickets for 36 runs (2/36) to help India to a five-wicket win. Yadav was the first cricketer to play for Vidarbha who took part in the game of Test cricket. India also won the second Test, and Yadav finished the series with nine wickets, the most among India's fast bowlers and less than half of all the team's spinners. In the following five-game ODI series, he managed six wickets with a 24.33 average from three appearances.

Yadav was selected as one of India's tempo bowlers for their 2011-12 tour of Australia. He played in all four Tests and took 14 wickets at an average of 39.35 as India lost the series 4-0. At the third Test at WACA Grounds in Perth, he took his first five-wicket draw in Test cricket with scores of 5/93 in Australia's first and only inning. In the subsequent triangular ODI series with Australia and Sri Lanka, Yadav managed 5 wickets from 6 games with an average of 59.80.

In May 2013, Umesh was named in India's 15-man squad for the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. He didn't have a great tournament as he only took 4 wickets from all 5 games he played in the tournament.

In December 2014, Umesh was named in India's 20-man squad for the 2015 Cricket World Cup. He was India's highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 18 wickets from 8 games and was also the third highest wicket-taker in the tournament.

In May 2021, Umesh was named in India's 20-man Test squad for India's World Test Championship finals against New Zealand and for India's 4-match Test series against England.

Bowling Style

Umesh Yadav Cricinfo Umesh is the fastest Indian bowler with a top speed of 152.5 km/h. Sidharth Monga wrote and commented on ESPNcricinfo in January 2012;
Yadav is fit, strong, fast and swings the ball late.

More importantly, he attacks the stumps and doesn't wait for edges. Eleven of his 21 test wickets have been rolled. Another was lbw. Five games is a short career for larger statistical analysis, but it's worth noting that he takes a wicket every 39.2 balls. It's not at odds with his overall top-notch hit rate of 46.8. Attacking the stumps also leaves less control over running flow, evident in his save rate of 4.24 in tests.

Former Australian bowler Glenn McGrath was impressed with Yadav's performance in January's first Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground. said McGrath
He was pretty impressive. He bowls at a good pace. He seems to have a great attitude and most importantly he is a wicket bowler. Maybe the direction and control isn't quite there yet, but it's not far away. He has this raw talent, good pace and can make a good jump. He's very busy at the moment.
Impressed by Umesh's performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2017, former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra said:

“It's not often that an Indian seafarer surpasses and surpasses their Australian counterparts, but the spell that sealed the deal for India at Dharamshala did just that. Umesh Yadav bowled with plenty of steam on Day 3, relegating both opening games before Die Half of the lead was wiped out. There are certain spells in tryouts that leave an indelible mark on one's memory, and his spell in Dharamshala will go down in history as one of them.