Umran Malik. (Source – Twitter/X)
India pacer Umran Malik rose through the ranks after a stunning performance in the IPL (Indian Premier League) 2022, grabbing 22 wickets for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2022. Umran Malik established himself as one of the biggest prospects of Indian cricket.
He got his chance to represent India, where he clocked 156 kph, which is recorded as the fastest ball ever bowled by an Indian. However, despite a stellar start to his career, Malik’s career went downhill.
As has been the case with many pacers in the past, he last played for India in July 2023, and his performances in the IPL have gone downhill as well. He picked up five wickets from eight matches last year and played just one game in 2024. Furthermore, another illness took a toll on him as it ruled him out of the Duleep Trophy India B squad for the first round of matches.
Speaking of the same, former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey came forward and stated that Umran Malik’s career has gone downhill due to him not playing much red-ball cricket.
“Umran is a classic case of who has not played enough red-ball cricket. He came to the reckoning through the IPL. That’s 24 balls in a game. Sometimes you don’t even get to bowl 24 balls. The amount of pressure of bowling 24 balls is not like the red ball. I feel this (T20) is not a format to judge a prospect,” Mhambrey, told The Indian Express.
Mhambrey opined that he is the type of coach who likes to coach players in the long term, nurturing their talent. “We made sure that he played Ranji Trophy and red ball cricket. The moment you will play one season, you will understand your bowling. Physically you will be tested in different phases of the game. Sometimes you will have to be on the ground for six sessions,” Mhambrey said.
“And to be able to bowl with that intensity when the last session is coming up, you will be physically and mentally challenged. And you need to go through that,” he added.