New Delhi: The story of India’s pacer Umran Malik is one of the most captivating narratives in recent years of Indian cricket. The fast bowler came in limelight with his fierce pace in the IPL 2022, he quickly earned a reputation for troubling world class batters. His ability to consistently lock 150 kmph made him one of the most hyped players.
His stellar performances over two IPL seasons earned him a coveted spot in India’s T20I and ODI squads, where he was poised to replicate his domestic success on the grand international stage.
Umran’s initial performances for India were promising, his raw pace and aggression that had made him talk of the town in the IPL. However, maintaining that peak performance proved elusive. As games progressed, Umran grappled with consistency, especially in maintaining his line and length. This inconsistency posed a significant challenge in both international clashes and IPL encounters.
The repercussions of his waning form were swift and severe. Umran found himself ousted from both the Indian national team and his IPL franchise. What once promised a glittering career now stands at a crossroads. Paras Mhambrey, India’s bowling coach during Umran’s rise and fall, sheds light on the unraveling of the young speedster’s journey.
“I think one has to build talent. Someone having express pace is a rare commodity and you see potential in him. When he burst onto the scene bowling 145-148 (kmph) — I’m not someone who get carried away with the speed gun showing 160kpmh because I don’t think it is real – you realise pace was his strength. He was definitely quick and was hitting the high 140kmphs regularly,” Mhambrey told Indian Express.
“To bowl consistently at that pace is good and he has done that. But how does he do that? In T20s, if you are not having control, you will struggle. Once you do that, you will lose the faith of the captain.
“So one has to gain control and that will happen only if he plays Ranji Trophy. That is why we are pushing him to play Ranji Trophy because when he goes through a season, even under pressure, he will be able to execute his skillset.”
Umran’s last appearance for the national team was in July last year during an ODI series in West Indies. His last T20 match was in February last year, when India took on New Zealand in Ahmedabad.
