Umran Malik was the breakthrough star of the recently concluded IPL 2022. The Sunrisers Hyderabad speedster scared opposition batters with his tearaway pace and wowed the entire world with his fitness, strength and skill. Former Indian batter Aakash Chopra has heaped plenty of praise on Umran for the way he has caused fear in the minds of the batters with his raw speed.

The fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir finished the season with 22 wickets and was the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the league this season. Although he proved to be quite expensive during the first few matches of the season, he became unplayable once he found more control in his length and also proved to be a genuine match-winner for SRH on several occasions.

Umran Malik received plenty of assistance from former South African pacer and one of the greatest of his generation Dale Steyn, who was also part of the SRH support staff. His efforts eventually led to him being recognized as the Emerging player of the Season and had it not been for Lockie Ferguson who bowled a fireball in the final, he’d have also finished the tournament with the Fastest delivery of the season.

In a video on his YouTube channel, Chopra talked about a few uncapped Indian pacers who he thinks will wear the blue jersey quite soon following their sensational performances in IPL 2022.

Reserving special praise for the 22-year-old from Srinagar, Chopra said, “First on that list is Umran Malik, his name is about to come anyway. He is the Jammu Tawi Express, what a fast bowler he is. His ball has the sharpness. He has made people run away by scaring and threatening them.”

While it’s true that Malik has also conceded runs and has been taken to the cleaners on certain occasions, the cricketer-turned-commentator also pointed out that he was extremely decisive when bowling at his best.

“He got hit in one or two matches, when he gets hit, he gets hit a lot, then the dam is broken, 40 runs in four overs. Quite a few times, Kane Williamson didn’t bowl him his entire quota as well but whenever he has bowled well, he has taken three-four wickets and even a five-wicket haul.”