Pace sensation, Umran Malik has been a find for Hyderabad in the ongoing edition of the Indian T20 League. He didn’t get a lot of opportunities last year. However, in the ongoing season, the 22-year-old has been part of the playing XI since the first game itself.
Last year, Malik played only three matches but grabbed eyeballs with his searing pace and bounce. He was then selected as a net bowler for the Indian team in the 2021 T20 World Cup. In the ongoing Indian T20 League, he has been picking wickets consistently and is currently the second-highest wicket-taker.
On April 27, the right-arm pacer took his first five-wicket haul in the game against Gujarat. During his spell, he disturbed the stumps of four batters and also accounted for the wicket of Hardik Pandya with one hell of a delivery. Meanwhile, former England off-spinner Graeme Swann said that he would consider Malik in the Indian team for the 2022 T20 World Cup, scheduled to be played in Australia later this year.
“Without a doubt, I will take Umran to Australia. Without a doubt! India have everything but they don’t have a pace bowler. Bumrah is quick but he isn’t express like Umran. Get him involved as soon as possible. He is easily good for international cricket,†Swann was quoted as saying by cricket.com.
The 43-year-old also expressed delight on the fact that the bowling coach Dale Steyn inspired Umran Malik fast, despite going for runs.
“Umran has been quick. At the start of the IPL, he was quick but going for a few runs. When I heard Dale Steyn say ‘I have asked him to bowl fast, that is his weapon’, I felt like cheering. That was amazing,†the 43-year-old added.
“He (Umran) is that quick, he is not wild. He is very straight but he is so quick that he can get away with it. The first delivery was absolute fire, Hardik was stunned. He then bowled a rapid short delivery and got Hardik out. The quicker he bowled, he was just amazing,†Swann said.
