Yadav was pleased to learn that he had not suffered another stress fracture

India pace bowler Umesh Yadav is nearing full health and is likely to return to international cricket within this month after suffering a “stress reaction” in his back, which has kept him on the sidelines since November last year.

Yadav last represented India in their Test series against England last year and was grateful that the medical staff detected his back issues in its early stages before it turned into a stress fracture.

“It’s all better now,” Yadav told ESPNcricinfo at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. “I started bowling for the first time in one-and-a-half months. The pain is gone now; now I have to train again and gradually start bowling at 100%.”

While medical staff say it is likely that he may return to playing international cricket later this month, there is still no official time frame as to when he will be fully fit.

“Have just resumed training so it will take time,” Yadav said. “It’s not like I can start bowling immediately now that the pain is gone. Will have to take this slowly. Next week, I will start bowling in the ground, at 30-40%. Then we will decide how much more I should do in the week after that.”

Yadav was thankful not to have suffered yet another stress fracture, like he did three years ago, and added that he will not be making any changes to the way he bowls.

“This was not a stress fracture,” he said. “This was what we call a stress reaction, which happens with too much load on the back, but it is good we came to know of it early because if you keep adding onto it, it can result in a fracture too. That would have taken at least six months to recover from.

“I had a stress fracture three years ago, but I bowled at the same pace when I came back. It’s more a mindset. My mindset has always been to do what comes naturally to me. I am not going to change my natural pace.”

However, Yadav admitted that the last few months have been extremely difficult for him.

“When a fast bowler is out of the ground, there is a different kind of pressure on the mind,” he said. “You are watching others play, but you can’t play. ‘Oh no, why can’t I play?’ Then again it’s important to train your mind to be patient. After an injury, it is important to control yourself when you have been asked not to do what you have always loved doing. Now also – even though I have been patient for this long – I need to take it gradually for another month or so.”