Umran Malik, SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) pace sensation has said that bowling fast comes naturally to him, and ever since the onset, he has bowled quickly to disrupt the batters’ concentration.
SRH pacer Umran Malik clocked 153kph to bowl the fastest delivery of IPL 2021 against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Wednesday. Umran Malik achieved this feat in the 4th delivery of the 9th over against Devdutt Padikkal. The RCB batsman got the outside edge and scored a run on the fastest delivery of IPL 2021.
Umran Malik Said Former Pacer Irfan Pathan Told Him He Can Improve
Roped in as a replacement for injured and Covid-19 affected T Natarajan, Umran Malik has been one of the very few positives for the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise in an otherwise forgettable campaign.
After making noise against Kolkata Knight Riders with his searing pace, Umran Malik went a step ahead against RCB as he clocked at 153kmph in the ninth over while delivering to RCB opener Devdutt Padikkal. Umran Malik was warmed up nicely, having delivered the previous three deliveries at 147, 150 and 152kmph, respectively. With a 153kmph thunderbolt, he bettered Lockie Ferguson’s 152.75 km record for the current season.
“From the very starting, I used to bowl fast. When I played cricket with Cosco ball, I used to bowl fast then also. We used to play one over matches and I used to run in and bowl fast yorkers. In 2018, U-19 trials came and I was bowling, the selectors saw me. I was bowling with jogger shoes, then my friend gave me spike shoes and I then came into the U-19 team. Then I played Under-23 cricket,” Umran Malik told teammate Bhuvneshwar Kumar in a video posted on iplt20.com.
“In 2018, I was practicing regularly. After Under-23, I played Vijay Hazare and Ranji Trophy. I thank the SRH franchise for giving me an opportunity. Irfan Pathan came and he told me where I can improve. I was scared at first when I had to bowl to Warner and Williamson in the nets. I prayed to God that I just bowl good balls. I kept on learning and this has helped me,” he added.
Against KKR, debutant Umran Malik, 21, clocked 151.03 km ph (93.84 mph), the fastest delivery by an Indian pacer this season of IPL 2021. Also, 11 out of his 24 legitimate deliveries against KKR were above 145 km ph (90mph).
Umran Malik Was Determined To Pick Up His Maiden Wicket Against RCB
A spirited bowling performance saw Kane Williamson-led SRH defeat RCB by four runs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Wednesday. Bhuvneshwar Kumar defended 13 off the final over to help his side register a thrilling victory.
“I was determined to take a wicket against RCB and I just wanted to take a wicket,” said Umran Malik.
Umran Malik began by hitting 141kph and conceded just a single off his first four deliveries. The fifth one produced a wicket, KS Bharat caught behind a searing short ball.
With 13 needed off the last over, bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, AB de Villiers drilled the fourth ball for six but fell short in the end. The defeat means Royal Challengers’ chances of finishing inside the top two in the points table are effectively over, as the eliminated Sunrisers Hyderabad pinched their third win of the season following contributions from almost all their bowlers, and batsmen Jason Roy and Kane Williamson.
Sunrisers Hyderabad 141 for 7 (Roy 44, Harshal 3-33, Christian 2-14) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 137 for 6 (Padikkal 41, Maxwell 40, Malik 1-21) by four runs