Umran Malik, India's next-gen pace sensation

Umran Malik made his International debut against Ireland after impressive performances in IPL 2022.

Big praise form a legend

Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar had a really insightful thing to say about Jammu and Kashmir pacer Umran Malik. He said that the last time he was so excited about a player making his debut for India was Sachin Tendulkar.

Naturally Gavaskar, who has seen the likes of Eknath Solkar and even Gavaskar himself taking the new ball in places like England during his time so that they could rough it up for the spinners to take charge, would only be jumping with joy to see the kind of pacers India has started to produce.

The team already has world-class pacers like JaspritBumrah, Mohammad Shami and Mohammed Siraj who are among the best in the world. Now with Umran coming to the fore, India's fast bowling stocks have only gone up.

How he got the gig?

Malik has a very film-like story. His name was suggested by another J & K player Abdul Samad to the Sunrisers Hyderabad management. Umran Malik joinee the Hyderabad camp as a net bowler in IPL 2021 and was included in the squad after T Natrajan was injured.

He was given a contract ahead of the IPL 2022 auctions and everyone saw the reason for it during the last edition of the IPL where he bowled some serious gas, including a delivery at 157 kmph, the second fastest delivery of IPL 2022 and the third fastest in the history of the IPL.

Impressive performances

Malik finished as the fourth highest wicket taker in IPL 2022 with 22 wickets from 14 matches at an average of 20.18 and an economy rate of 9.03. He produced his best performance against Gujarat Titans, picking up his maiden 5 wicket haul.

There was a lot of anticipation around Umran Malik making his India debut. Although the moment did not arrive in the five match T20 series against South Africa hosted by India right after the IPL, Malik got to make his debut against Ireland shortly before India tour of England.

Although he got only one over and failed to impress, giving away 14 runs including one 6 and one 4, it hardly matters as it is more about exposure than performance in the first few games for Umran Malik.

There is little doubt that the more he plays, he will only improve. Malik, beyond doubt, is a national asset and must be treasured.