Mumbai: Indian Premier League’s (IPL) latest pace sensation Umran Malik says he want to cross the 155kmph speed mark one day but his main focus will still remain on bowling at the right areas as he claimed five-wicket haul had almost sealed the deal for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Malik produced a master class of pace bowling in the game between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans. He was bang on target as the 22-year-old claimed his maiden five-wicket haul, which included the big wickets of Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha and Hardik Pandya.
All heart and sheer pace! 🔝 🔥🔥#UmranMalik pic.twitter.com/jah3VSdpx8
— Washington Sundar (@Sundarwashi5) April 27, 2022
“The idea was to bowl fast and maintain length and plan the wickets. Like I dismissed Hardik bhai with a bouncer and shuffled up (Wriddhiman) Saha and bowled him out with a yorker,” Malik said after the match.
“I tried to mix my bowling, and target the wickets as it is a small ground. Otherwise our bowling has done well.” he added.
Malik has been clocking in excess of 145 kph consistently and has even crossed the 150 kph mark on various occasions. Due to SRH pacer’s classy show in the second half of IPL 2021, he was also included as a net bowler in India’s T20 WC 2021 squad. So far in IPL 2022 he has picked up 15 wickets in eight matches at an average of 15.93.
Asked if he still fancies touching the 155kmph mark, he said: “I just want to bowl at the right areas and good wickets and if I have to bowl above 155mph, God willing, I will do one day.”
Despite Malik’s valuable effort SRH went on losing the match by 5 wickets. Thanks to some brilliant late order hitting by Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan, who completely took the game away from SRH. Despite his team ending up on the losing side, Malik walked away with the Player of the Match award for his outstanding efforts on the field.
