Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer Umran Malik has been one of the fastest bowlers in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Having made his IPL debut in the 2021 season, the young pacer from Jammu & Kashmir has been clocking over 150 kilometres per hour and has also succeeded in bowling fast deliveries as well.
The 22-year-old bowler's father Rashid Malik has opened up about his son’s passion and the journey that made him a star bowler. He has said that he wants to see his son don the India jersey in the World Cup and that Umran will make India proud at the international level. Rashid recalled how Umran was adamant about becoming a fast bowler right from when he started to play cricket.
“Umran has made me popular in the market and Jammu overall. Everyone greets me by saying ‘adaab’ in the market. I am really proud of my son”, said Rashid Malik while speaking to the Times of India.
“Umran was adamant that he wanted to become a fast bowler. He used to run hard and do that for a long time. I knew he was determined. He used to practice at the Science College in Jammu with wet tennis balls. He used to take a long run-up and bowl as fast as possible. He used to dip the tennis ball in water and bowl,” he added.
“My only dream now is to see my son in an Indian team jersey. I want him to play in the World Cup someday. I am sure he will. He has reached this level and I am confident he will get there very soon. He will make the entire country proud,” he further added.
Umran Malik was one of SRH’s retained players for IPL 2022 along with skipper Kane Williamson and Jammu & Kashmir teammate Abdul Samad. The youngster has picked up 10 wickets in seven matches so far. His best figures came against Punjab Kings (PBKS) where he registered match-winning bowling figures of 4/18 including a maiden in the 20th over.
Malik became only the third bowler in IPL history after Irfan Pathan (2008) and Jaydev Unadkat (2017) to bowl a maiden in the 20th over. He has been crucial to Hyderabad's turnaround in form, with the 2016 champions have won their last five matches in IPL 2022.
