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Indian speedster Umran Malik opened up on his tough phase over the past few months with injury misfortunes and poor form ahead of the 2024-25 Indian domestic season. The 24-year-old burst onto the scene after a sensational IPL 2022 campaign for the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), picking up 22 wickets in 14 games.
More than the numbers, Umran's express pace caught the eyes of the fans and experts. Many tout him as the next big thing in the Indian pace battery. However, things have since gone downhill, with the youngster playing only nine matches in the next two IPLs and scalping a mere five wickets.
Furthermore, injuries and bad weather derailed his 2023-24 Ranji season for Jammu & Kashmir. He picked up only four wickets at an average of over 38 in five outings.
Umran spoke to The Indian Express about the disappointing last season and said:
"I was fully prepared that season, but the weather didn’t help. Then I was really looking forward to the IPL as I’d gained a lot in the months preceding the IPL.
"Unfortunately even that didn’t go the way I wanted. 2. But it also gave me the time to work on things I wanted to in the practice sessions. I’ve definitely become a better bowler if you ask me. After the IPL, I injured my hamstring and just as I recovered I’m down with dengue."
Despite the setbacks, Umran remained upbeat about the upcoming domestic season and spoke about the strides made in his bowling.
"These days I’m bowling a lot with the new ball because I believe swing can make a huge difference at my pace. I want to learn a few things, especially how to formulate a plan and execute it. If you have that, then you will be better prepared to handle the challenges," Umran stated.
Following his impressive IPL 2022 season, Umran was fast-tracked into the Indian white-ball sides later that year.
He has played 10 ODIs and 8 T20Is in his brief international career, picking up 24 wickets across the two formats.
"First of all I don’t want him to compromise on pace" - Irfan Pathan
Former Indian pacer Irfan Pathan has been working with Umran Malik to make minor tweaks to his action. He recently said he was clear that the youngster should not compromise on pace.
However, Pathan mentioned waiting until the end of last season to help Malik improve his bowling.
"Last season, he was opening up a bit too early but I didn’t want to advise him in the middle of the tournament because it can confuse a player. First of all I don’t want him to compromise on pace. That’s the most important thing," said Pathan.
He added:
"I want him to bowl with a new ball in the nets which will allow him to gain better control. If he bowls with the new ball regularly, he will have a better idea of the length. He will also understand that swing will come with good wrist position. This is the primary focus, but other than this, he has been working on his yorkers."
Malik boasts an impressive overall T20 average of 24.98 in 54 outings but his first-class and List-A averages are upwards of 40.
