Thanks to his incredible speed, Umran Malik became very noticeable when he first played in the IPL in 2021. Because he could consistently throw the ball at speeds over 140 kilometers per hour, this right-handed fast bowler played in all 14 games for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2022 IPL.
He quickly made his debut in international matches, and at 24 years old, he played in 10 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 8 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for India from June 2022 to July 2023. During these games, he took a total of 24 wickets.
But his shares have gone down since then.
In the 2023 IPL, Umran played in eight games for SRH, and in the last season, he only got to play one game while the team came in second place.
Even though speed is his strongest point, Umran hasn’t been able to keep his bowling under control, which has caused him to give away many runs. He’s been trying to add more types of deliveries to his bowling without losing his ability to make the ball swing.
“I was completely ready for that season (Ranji Trophy 2023-24), but the weather wasn’t good,” Umran said in an interview with The Indian Express. “Then I was really excited for the IPL because I had improved a lot in the months before it. Sadly, it didn’t turn out how I hoped. But it also gave me time to work on what I wanted during practice.”
Umran was looking forward to beginning his season by participating in the Buchi Babu tournament, but he is currently suffering from dengue after recently recovering from a hamstring injury.
“I definitely feel I’ve improved as a bowler. After the IPL, I hurt my hamstring, and just as I got better, I contracted dengue,” he explained.
Umran has been practicing with the new ball during training sessions.
“Right now, I’m focusing a lot on bowling with the new ball because I think swing can greatly impact my speed. I’m eager to learn some new techniques, particularly how to create and carry out a plan. If I can do that, I’ll be better equipped to face the challenges ahead,” he mentioned.
His next goal is the Duleep Trophy tournament happening next month. Key players from India’s Test team, like captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, are also expected to join.
“I aim to prepare for the upcoming domestic cricket season. The more games I play, the better I’ll become as a bowler. Even though I only played five Ranji matches, I saw a big improvement in my skills. I’m excited for the Duleep Trophy. Playing throughout the season will help me understand my level and create new chances for me. I can’t wait to hold the red ball again,” he mentioned.
