Indian pace bowler Umran Malik’s performance in the 2023 IPL season has been far from impressive, managing to secure just five wickets in seven matches while conceding runs at an economy rate of 10.35. The cricketer’s recent game against the Delhi Capitals on April 29 was particularly lackluster, as he conceded a staggering 22 runs in a single over. This sudden decline in Malik’s form has not been well-received by fans of the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) team, nor has it escaped the attention of cricket experts.
During the toss against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on May 18, SRH captain Aiden Markram was asked about Malik’s absence. His response raised eyebrows, as he expressed uncertainty regarding the situation. In light of Markram’s statement, former SRH coach Tom Moody commented on the captain’s involvement in team selection, suggesting that Markram might have limited influence in such decisions.
Moody stated, “I think that implies that he has very little say in the selection and he may have an opinion on Umran Malik the cricketer and what he probably feels his season should have been like, with regards to opportunities to play,” during an interview with ESPNcricinfo.
Markram, on the other hand, offered his perspective on the matter at the toss during the match against RCB. He acknowledged Malik’s exceptional skills, stating, “I am not too sure, to be honest with you. Obviously, he is a player with the X factor, and bowls at 150kmph, but I don’t really know what is happening with him behind the scenes. But, certainly, he is a player that has a lot of X-factors.”
Moody further emphasized the importance of alignment between the captain and the coach in terms of team selection. He expressed his belief that both parties should be on the same page and working together to determine the best combination for the team. Moody highlighted the uniqueness of each franchise’s approach to selection involvement, mentioning that some teams have multiple decision-makers involved. In the case of SRH, he believed that there were many individuals involved in the decision-making process.
“That’s not ideal, you need your captain and your coach on the same page, working towards what you think is the best combination. Every franchise is different with regards to the involvement in the selection. There are other teams where there are a lot of cooks in the kitchen. I think that applies in this situation that we are talking about the Sunrisers,” added the 53-year-old.
Unfortunately for SRH, their lackluster performance in the IPL 2023 season led to their elimination from the tournament. They finished in last place (tenth) on the IPL points table, with just eight points from 13 matches. In their final match against RCB, led by Markram, SRH managed to post a competitive total of 186/5 thanks to Heinrich Klaasen’s remarkable century (104 off 51). However, RCB chased down the target in 19.2 overs, propelled by Virat Kohli’s sensational hundred (100 off 63), ultimately winning the game by eight wickets.
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