There has been great excitement surrounding Umran Malik ever since his fiery introduction to world cricket with the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the back end of IPL 2021. Since then, he has had an impressive season in IPL 2022, bowling high speeds and testing the speed gun, and despite being expensive at times, has shown his potential and raw talent in bursts, such as with a fifer against the champions-to-be Gujarat Titans. His immense potential, with the ability to bowl in the high 150s, led to him getting a maiden call-up to T20I cricket against South Africa and his debut in the first T20I against Ireland on Sunday.
However, in a rain-curtailed 12-over match, the debut didn’t exactly go to plan: Umran only got one over in which he went for 14 runs, and while he clocked 140 kmph comfortably, he did not reach the heights of his ability. It was a poor start to an international career, pushing the momentum temporarily towards Ireland, but former Pakistan cricketer was quick to defend Umran by saying that six balls are not enough to draw judgement about the quality of a cricketer.
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Speaking on his official YouTube channel, Kaneria said “We must understand that it was his first game, and there is always pressure when it's a 12-over match. You cannot judge a player on the basis of one over.”
{{/usCountry}}Speaking on his official YouTube channel, Kaneria said “We must understand that it was his first game, and there is always pressure when it's a 12-over match. You cannot judge a player on the basis of one over.”
{{/usCountry}}Malik did have a tendency to be slightly wayward and expensive in the IPL, a result of his youth and inexperience at the highest level, although he took 22 wickets, an impressive feat at his age, he also went at above nine runs an over. But for many, it is the fact that he was able to use his raw pace alone to pick up 22 scalps that makes him so exhilarating and a must-have for Indian cricket going into the future.
Umran would be disappointed with not getting more than a solitary over in his debut match, with eyes all around the world watching, but given his age and the natural tools he has, it is only a matter of time before experience and coaching hone him into a weapon with many sides to his game.
Kaneria reminded his viewers of this fact, saying that there is a reason why he is already playing for India after just one full domestic season: “He will get more chances and he will do very well. He's been doing well, and that's why he's been selected.”
Umran was largely used as a middle-overs enforcer during the IPL season, asked to bowl quick and hit the deck, ideally making runs difficult to come by for batters in that stage of the game. With some more experience, he is sure to add some variation to his arsenal, and his pace alone is always likely to keep him in games and make him a threat to pick up wickets, beating even the most capable batters for speed.
He will hope to bowl his quota of four overs in the second T20I against Ireland, again to be played at the Malahide Cricket Club ground in Dublin. Despite his expensive over, India were able to chase down Ireland’s total of 108 fairly comfortably, with 16 balls and 7 wickets to spare. With the knowledge that he has the batting lineup to back him up, Indian fans will be hoping to see the best of Umran Malik in the blue shirt very soon.