The young fiery pacer from J&K, Umran Malik, has already risen to cricketing fame with his blistering pace during the just-concluded 2022 Indian Premier League. He was clocked consistently for speeds in excess of 150 km/hr, which turned him overnight into a sensation and put him in the national team. After that breakout season in the IPL with Sunrisers Hyderabad, when everyone was impressed by his raw pace and aggression, Malik found himself amidst a string of challenges that tested his mettle.
In the 2024 IPL season, Umran Malik’s fortunes took a different turn. Lack of consistency in performance and, more unfortunate, injury put him behind in the count. This perfection, disappointing though, will propel Malik further to realize his will of getting onto his old boots and, once more ensure he is in at least one of the playing XI of the national team.
Reflecting on it, Umran Malik shared, “But it also gave me time to work on things I wanted to in the practice sessions. I would definitely say I have become a better bowler, if you ask me. After the IPL, I got a hamstring injury, and just as I recovered, I’m down with dengue.”
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Umran Malik has been unable to find control over economy rates, though he can touch extreme pace, due to which questions have started being raised regarding his efficacy, especially in the T20 format. He knows that very well and has been working very hard to correct this. “Since my pace, I’ve been bowling a lot with the new ball these days, because with swing, you can make a whole lot of difference. I want to learn a few things, especially how to formulate a plan and execute it.”
Umran Malik “These days I’m bowling a lot with the new ball because swing can make a huge difference at my pace.Even with the new ball,I’m trying to bowl yorkers,if I’m able to execute it properly,then I will get the confidence to bowl it all the time.”pic.twitter.com/Ci32f93Gmf
— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) August 13, 2024
Looking ahead, he wishes to perform during the coming domestic season, presenting his improvements to make a case strong enough for national team recall. The speedster looks forward to once again opening the throttle, running in hard, bowling at breakneck speed, and making sure his line and lengths are on the money.
“I want to keep it simple. My plan is to be ready for the domestic season. If I would have played more number of matches, then I would definitely be a better bowler. Even though I have played just five Ranji matches, I realized how much I gained out of it. I’m waiting for the Duleep Trophy,” he further justified.
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As Umran Malik tries to recover from his illness, he keeps his fingers crossed for his participation in the prestigious All India Buchi Babu Invitation Tournament, starting August 15. But his focus remains clear. “It will be good if I play the whole series so that I really know where I’m standing, and it will open up opportunities. I’m just waiting with the red ball in my hand,” said Malik, indicating his readiness to face challenges and make another mark on world cricket through his imperious bat.
