Former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn recently shared an interesting anecdote about Umran Malik, a young pacer once touted as the next big thing in Indian cricket. While Steyn believed that introducing slower deliveries at key moments would benefit Umran’s bowling, the young speedster had other ideas—and he made sure to prove the legend wrong in style.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Dale Steyn recalled an IPL match where he had observed that Umran wasn’t utilizing the slower ball as effectively as senior bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
“I noticed that Umran bowled a slower delivery maybe once every four overs, while Bhuvi used it much more effectively,” Steyn explained. When he shared this insight with Umran, the youngster was eager to take it on board.
WATCH – Tim Seifert Destroys Shaheen Afridi With Four Sixes In An Over In 2nd T20I
During a game in Mumbai, Steyn predicted that it was the perfect moment for Umran to bowl a slower ball. “I turned to Murali [Muthiah Muralidaran, then SRH assistant coach] and said, ‘I think he’s going to bowl a slower ball,’” Steyn recounted. But to his surprise, Umran charged in and unleashed a thunderous 155 kph yorker that shattered the stumps.
As the cameras turned toward Steyn, the former pacer had to acknowledge the brilliance of the young bowler. “I was trying to teach him something, but he showed me that sometimes the best judge is the player himself. He ignored my advice and produced an absolute gem of a delivery.”
While Dale Steyn still believes there’s value in using data and statistics to refine bowling strategies, he admitted that some moments transcend analytics. “There’s always a place for stats, but instincts and raw pace can sometimes be more effective. That day, Umran proved me wrong.”
ALSO READ: Sourav Ganguly Questions Rohit Sharma’s Test Form Ahead Of England Series
Unfortunately, Umran Malik is set to miss IPL 2025 due to injury, and defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders have roped in Chetan Sakariya as his replacement. While fans will miss Umran’s fiery pace this season, his ability to bounce back stronger remains undeniable.
