Sunrisers Hyderabad have won four matches on the trot now after starting the season with back-to-back losses and one of the main reasons behind their success has been Umran Malik’s performance.
The 22-year-old has made the world sit up and take notice with his ability to bowl around 150kph almost regularly. Malik has picked up nine wickets in six matches this season now, which includes memorable spells of 4-0-27-2 and 4-1-28-4 against Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings respectively. His spell against the Kings’ also includes a triple-wicket maiden in the final over of the innings, which is an absolute rarity in T20 cricket.
He has troubled even the best of batters with his searing pace. Malik nails the hard lengths consistently at a rapid pace and that makes it tough for batters to play him comfortably. His talent and potential has impressed many experts and pundits, and Ian Bishop is one among them.
“I’ve been excited about this guy since I saw him bowl last year. Genuine pace, you cannot go to a supermarket and buy that. You can train someone to master line and length but can’t teach someone how to bowl fast. He’s bowling with hostility which means even the best of batters will be uncomfortable facing him,” Bishop said on Star Sports.
“He scares you the same way Lockie Ferguson and Jofra Archer do, and Dale Steyn loves him. It’s just fascinating to me what Umran Malik can become. If he stays fit, he’s going to play for India and international cricket. I would also repeat how many Umran Malik’s around this vast nation are yet to be discovered,” the West Indian added.
Malik has also received rich praise from the likes of Ravi Shastri, Virat Kohli and Dale Steyn. In fact, Steyn is mentoring Malik in this IPL season as he is also the bowling coach of SRH. The former South African great is super impressed with Malik’s potential and has turned him into his passion project. Under Steyn’s tutelage, Malik has the potential to become a world-beating fast bowler.
