'Umran Malik doesn't have ability to swing the ball': Ex-India pacer's 'Dale Steyn' suggestion for off-colour SRH star

In 7 matches in IPL 2023, Umran has picked only five wickets at 35.20. In 4 of those ties, he went for runs over 10 an over and was dropped for 2 games as well.

Published on: May 5, 2023, 16:11:08 IST

By Aratrick Mondal, Kolkata

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Umran Malik was the find of IPL 2022, not just for Sunrisers Hyderabad, but even more so for the Indian team. His raw pace and ability to take wickets had left veterans and experts gobsmacked and called for his debut India cap and a chance in the T20 World Cup squad. His tally of 22 wickets in the season, was the second-best by an Indian after Purple Cap winner Yuzvendra Chahal (27), with a strike rate of just 13.4. However, Umran has gone completely off-colour in 2023, looking only a pale shadow of himself.

In seven matches so far, the right-arm fast bowler has picked only five wickets at 35.20. In four of those games, he went for runs over 10 an over and was dropped for two games as well.

In his last match, against Delhi Capitals, Umran was smacked for 22 runs in the only over he bowled. He was severely criticised by both Ravi Shastri and Kevin Pietersen for not taking notes from Delhi's innings and Mitchell Marsh's bowling, who had picked four wickets in the match.

ALSO READ: ‘He can replace Bumrah, can be next Shami’: India's World Cup-winning pacer's smashing verdict on Siraj

While there have been criticism over SRH's use of Umran and former India pacer RP Singh, IPL expert, Jio Cinema, agrees to it, he feels that it is also the responsibility of a bowler to give that confidence to a captain.

The 2007 World Cup-winning fast bowler opined that the 23-year-old needs to take a leaf out of SRH bowling coach Dale Steyn's career and learn how to swing the ball. RP Singh feels that the day Umran can add swing to his bowling and can dish out slower deliveries and cutters as well, he could become unstoppable.

“Yes one can debate on how SRH have used Umran this season, but even as a bowler you need to give that confidence to the captain that yes you can contribute towards the team. He has speed, and that is a big thing. If he can swing the ball like Dale Steyn...Umran doesn't have that ability to swing the ball. The moment he manages to improve on that, maybe learn to bowl those cutters as well, he will be a different bowler altogether,” he told Hindustan Times.

“When you are bowling at the speed of 150kmph, you become the go-to bowler for the team and captain would then expect you to take wickets in situations or conditions where no other bowler managed to get a breakthrough. And he did that last season, but that hasn't happened this time.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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