In the first T20 match played against Sri Lanka at Wankhede Stadium, Indian fast bowler Umran Malik showed his power. After hovering in the 140s during his spell, he bowled a 155 kmph delivery that dismissed Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka. additional cover.
The 23-year-old from Jammu is known for his pace and it seems his stint with former South African pacer Dale Steyn at Sunrisers Hyderabad has inspired him to continue his pace.
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According to India Today, after the end of the last IPL season, Malik shared an interesting anecdote with Raman Thapalu, a fellow cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir. Malik had told what Steyn had told him after Sunrisers’ last match.
“Dale Steyn told Umran, ‘You were born to ride a Ferrari, never switch to a Fiat,'” Thapalu recalled.
Thapalu said, “Tom Moody and Muttiah Muralitharan’s advice was never to compromise on their pace as it is their weapon with which they can terrorize the batsmen.”
So far, in the international circuit, Malik has played five ODIs and four T20Is, making him an integral part of the team.
Former India Under-19 cricketer, Tanmay Srivastava, the fielding coach of Jammu and Kashmir, said that he was surprised to see the wicket-keeper’s gloves trembling whenever he collected Malik’s deliveries.
“We were playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Mohali and it was the first time I saw a wicketkeeper and the slips standing so far away. We are sitting in the dressing room and you can clearly hear the sound of the ball hitting the wicketkeeper’s glove. I have never seen anything like this in my career, Srivastava told The Indian Express from Surat, where J&K was playing against Railways.
Tanmay also shared his thoughts on how Malik managed to bowl at a decent pace. He said, “Superior genes. a natural talent. And his run-up is where he generates that pace. It is very smooth, his steps are like a sprinter and this gives him speed. This is what I came to know after observing them closely.
Malik dismissed two Sri Lankan batsmen at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday (January 3) and the crowd was thoroughly impressed by him. Malik has a very strong connection with the Wankhede as it was the same venue where he took a five-wicket haul against Gujarat Titans during IPL 2022. This was also the time when his fans saw a fast bowler in him.
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Vivrant Sharma, Malik’s long-time friend and his J&K and now SRH teammate revealed that applause and praise makes Malik even more dangerous.
“Even at the nets if people start cheering for him, it gives him an adrenaline rush. He will start fast bowling.
Vivrant further laughed and said, “Uska hai ki maar hi dena hai batsman ko aur net pe toh no-ball ka koi concept hai nahi wo 22 yard 18 yard ho jata hai aur agar 4 logo ne waah Umran waah kar diya fir aapko bhagwan hi bacha sakte hai (He just wants to go hard at the batsman and in the nets, you don’t have the concept of no-ball, 22 yards reduce to 18, and if few people start chanting his name, then only god can save you.)”
While Malik is ticking all the boxes, his coach coach Randhir Manhas believes that it is just the beginning as Malik too can bowl at 160 kmph one day.
“I talked to him today [Tuesday] Also and trust me he is not losing his sleep to reach that 160 barrier. He is a rhythm bowler and someday he can bowl 160 balls but that will be one ball. His main aim is to bowl all six balls in the high 140s,” Manhas said.
In this Ranji Trophy season, Malik played only one match for Jammu and Kashmir and then returned to Jammu as according to his coach he was asked to focus on limited overs.
“He has been told to focus on the white ball. The only Test series India will play (for a while) is against Australia and the team management is in no rush to play him with the red ball,” Manhas said.
He further explained how Malik is also working on different bowling variations.
“He never used to bowl slow back-of-the-hand. This time I saw him working on his variations. He was working on his yorkers, slower bouncers and it was a pleasant surprise for me.
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