The Indian Premier League’s motto from the very beginning has been ‘where talent meets opportunities and being very true to this line, the IPL introduces us to a number of unbelievable talents every year. Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav are all finds of the Indian Premier League and the big money-making tournament continues to provide the Indian national team with new talents every year and one such talent this year is Sunrisers Hyderabad’s, Umran Malik.
Umran Malik started to make a name for himself at the end of last season when he became the fasted bowler in the Indian Premier League despite playing in only the last few matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad and he overtook Delhi Capitals’ Anrich Nortje who has been the speediest bowlers in the IPL for the last couple of years. The Kashmir born lad became a household name in no time and he was a special talent as India rarely produces these natural fast bowling talents and the pacers of India do not usually bowl at such a lethal pace.
Umran Malik is finally getting a chance to showcase his talents in the Indian Premier League at a regular basis this year as he is one of the main pacers of Sunrisers Hyderabad this season and he was retained by them ahead of IPL 2022.
He picked up 2 wickets in their first match against Rajasthan Royals and despite not having a great start in the first over, he made a brilliant comeback in the rest of his spell. Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri has now opened up on Umran Malik and he has said that Malik will most likely get a national call up very soon.
“IF HE HITS THE RIGHT AREAS HE IS GOING TO TROUBLE A LOT OF BATSMEN. IT IS ABOUT HANDLING HIM PROPERLY. IT’S THE MESSAGES THAT YOU GIVE HIM, IT’S THE WAY YOU COMMUNICATE WITH HIM THAT IS GOING TO BE VERY VERY IMPORTANT. THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT HIS POTENTIAL. THIS GUY IS AN INDIA PLAYER. WHEN HE IS READY, ONLY TIME WILL TELL, BUT THAT COMMUNICATION PART IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. HE SHOULD BE HANDLED WITH CARE AND KEPT IN THE MIX. HE SHOULD BE KEPT IN THE MIX OF THE INDIAN CRICKET TEAM, THE A TEAM. THE SELECTORS WILL HAVE TO WATCH HIM CLOSELY AND KEEP HIM IN THE MIX AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.”
– Ravi Shastri