Umran Malik’s pace has got everyone talking. Currently Dale Steyn’s protégé at Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Malik earned praise from all over the world after getting his maiden fifer in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Another legend to join the bandwagon is former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Daniel Vettori. The former Kiwi left-arm spinner believes that Malik’s pace will cause anxiety among batters and compared him to fast-bowling legends.
“That pace generates anxiety among batters and not just tailenders, it’s all batters. We don’t often see bowlers get around the 153-154 mark. That’s exceptional pace, that’s a rarity that we haven’t seen I suppose consistently since the likes of [Brett] Lee, Shoaib Akhtar, or Shaun Tait. So, to see that is a huge part of the game now. You can see the excitement factor, brings a bit of X-factor,” the 43-year-old told ESPNCricinfo.
Malik registered the best bowling figures of the ongoing IPL 2022. With 5/25 against Gujarat Titans (GT), he is now second in the race of purple cap with 15 wickets from eight games at an average of 15.93. He has bowled the fastest delivery in eight consecutive matches.
Impressed with his pace, Australia’s hard-hitting batter Chris Lynn feels that Malik should be selected in India’s squad for T20 World Cup 2022 later this year. Lynn feels that Malik’s pace and the bounce he will generate will come in handy on Australian pitches.
“I will factor the wickets are bouncy here in Australia and you need I suppose that youth and just that guys haven’t played against it. You keep going back to whom you drop because it is such a formidable [bowling] line-up but would love to see this guy in the World Cup. He’s going to take the world by storm if he does get a chance at the international level. It is lucky that I am not a selector for India,” Lynn said.
Malik has been under the radar since his IPL debut last year. He was asked to stay in UAE after completion of IPL 2021 for T20 World Cup 2021 as India’s net bowler. Also, he travelled with the Indian team on South Africa as net bowler. With five-T20I series at home coming up against South Africa, Malik can be given a chance too based on exceptional IPL performances.
