Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer Umran Malik has stamped his name as one of the fastest Indian bowlers in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The speedster from Jammu and Kashmir once again bowled the fastest ball of the ongoing IPL 2022 season, notching a cracking 154 kilometres per hour against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), while bowling to Ruturaj Gaikwad. This is among the fastest balls ever bowled by an Indian pacer, a massive record for the 22-year-old.
Umran has regularly bowled above 150 kmph this season for SRH. Earlier in the season, he touched 153.3 against Gujarat Titans (GT). His record was broken by Lockie Ferguson, who clocked a speed of 153.9 kmph against CSK.
But on Sunday (May 1), Umran was at his best yet again. Following his 154 kmph ball against Gaikwad, the bowler touched the same speed later in the innings against CSK skipper MS Dhoni with a beautifully timed yorker.
The history books state that Javagal Srinath has the fastest ball in Indian cricket prior to Sunday's second game. Officially, the former Karnataka pacer's ball which clocked 149.6 kmph was the second-fastest at the 1999 World Cup, only after Pakistan's Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar. However, unofficial reports suggest that Srinath could have breached the 157 kmph during India’s tour to South Africa in 1996, but the absence of reliable speed guns ensures that this number doesn’t make it to any official lists.
Malik ended the innings without any wickets while giving away 48 runs for SRH. Although he was unable to bowl at his best against CSK, the speedster has 15 scalps this season, currently ranking him among the best bowlers in India. He picked up four wickets and a maiden in the final over, helping his team to a win over Punjab Kings (PBKS). He also picked up a brilliant five-fer against Gujarat, although his team went on to lose that match.
With many former cricketers and cricket pundits calling for his inclusion in the national team, it will be interesting to see whether Umran clocks similar speeds when the pacer makes his inevitable entry into the India team.
