Recent assessments of Umran Malik’s international cricket performances for Team India have been raving. The bowler, who played in the first two games of the just-finished three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, was in outstanding form throughout. The spinner claimed three wickets in eight overs in the first ODI, which India won in Guwahati by a score of 67 runs. Virat Kohli scored 113 runs off 87 balls throughout the game.
The 23-year-old picked up two dismissals in seven overs of the second ODI, which India won in Kolkata by four wickets. In the final ODI, which India won by 317 runs, the pacer was absent. Umran, who regularly bowls 150 or more deliveries, is also a member of India’s selection for the upcoming ODI and T20 series against New Zealand, which will consist of three games. Wednesday in Hyderabad marks the start of the ODI series, and if given the chance, Umran will be looking to continue his recent success. If he continues his remarkable performances, the Jammu and Kashmir player can possibly be a surprise addition for this year’s ODI World Cup.
Bharat Arun, a former India bowling coach, recently analyzed Umran during an interview with News24 Sports. He also offered some advice to help him smash Shoaib Akhtar’s speed record. “Umran Malik is a great find for India. Somebody who bowls 150-plus consistently. He is a huge talent for India and we need to nurture this talent. We have the option of making him a very good bowler for India in the future”, he said.
“For fast bowling, physical fitness and skill are 50-50. He needs to work on both to maximize his potential, with consistency. He needs to work on these both things. If you work on your action, your line and length will get better and your speed will increase as well. To increase the pace, drills can be helpful and workload monitoring is also important. Any bowler can increase the pace by 5 kmph easily with the kind of work (when questioned if he can break Akhtar’s 161 kmph record). But if someone is bowling 125, can’t make it 150. Some putting 135, can make it 140. Some bowling 140, can make it 145. But you cannot increase too much”, he further added.
