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Jammu and Kashmir speedster Umran Malik's frustrations in his red-ball career continue as he has reportedly been sidelined for at least four to six weeks due to a hip injury. As a result, he is unlikely to partake in the first phase of the Ranji Trophy, scheduled to begin from October 11 onwards.
According to a report by K Sports Watch, the Jammu and Kashmir team are likely to replace the speedster with either Waseem Bashir or Umar Nazir.
Umran Malik was touted to play the 2024 Duleep Trophy after being named in the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led Team C, but was ruled out due to dengue. The setback came while he was recovering from a hamstring injury that he sustained during the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season with the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH).
"Unfortunately, even that didn’t go the way I wanted. 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," Umran Malik voiced frustration over his lackluster IPL campaigns and injuries in an interview with the Indian Express in August.
After a brilliant 2022 IPL campaign, his first full season, the pacer was handed his maiden national call-up. However, his career has gone downhill since. His previous two IPL campaigns have been poor and he is not in the scheme of things across formats for Team India at the moment.
Umran Malik has played 12 first-class matches to date
The need for the speedster to be a part of a reputed domestic structure has been voiced often. Malik is in desperate need of a revival, and it can come through a prolific domestic season with the white-ball or the red-ball.
He has played 12 first-class matches so far, with his last appearance coming in February 2024 during the Ranji Trophy. The right-arm pacer has taken 16 wickets at an average of 44.62.
Several have pointed out the lack of Malik's consistency to go along with his sheer pace. He could be in a race against time to be fit for Jammu and Kashmir's domestic white-ball endeavors towards the end of the year.
