'He is not someone only looking to play T20 cricket' - Ashish Nehra lauds Umran Malik's desire to play longer formats for India

India's hapless run in ODIs against the Kiwis continued as the visitors were at the end of another series defeat by the Blackcaps earlier this week. The 1-0 series defeat flattered the visitors as Kane Williamson's side were on course for a routine victory in the third ODI before rain intervened. Despite several shortcomings in the bowling department, former Indian pacer Ashish Nehra was all praise for tearaway pacer Umran Malik, who made his ODI bow in the recently concluded series.

Umran Malik's searing pace made headlines in IPL 2022, earning him a call-up to the national side in the T20I series against Ireland. Malik's blistering pace makes him an invaluable asset to the team, especially in the shortest format of the game, where batters are on the hunt for quick runs. However, the Gujarat Titan's head coach Ashish Nehra reckoned that the 23-year-old has much more to his game than just extravagant pace and will be equally effective in the longer format of the game due to his intensity.

"There is no doubt that he is one of the shining lights of not only this tour but whenever he has played before. Everybody is excited about him and the main reason is his pace. You said that he is not someone who is only looking to bowl 4 overs. He has started his career with T20 cricket but I have seen him bowl 16-18 and 20 overs with rapid pace. He is young, he is quick. He is not someone who will hold back or bowl only 80-85 percent. He is not someone only looking to play T20 cricket which is a great thing in today's day and age," Nehra said exclusively on Prime Video.

There is no doubt about it that all eyes will be on him in near future: Ashish Nehra

The former left-arm pacer also highlighted the eagerness of modern players to play the shortest format but reckoned Umran was different than his peers. Nehra feels the youngster from Jammu will get better with each game and will be a threat with the old ball and the new ball in the longer formats of the game, depending on the plans of the Indian team management.

"We have seen how T20 cricket has evolved. Majority of the players are keener to play T20 cricket first and that way he is different. The more you play the better he will get. He has shown good control with the old ball and it will be interesting to see how he bowls with the new ball, how the selectors use him and how the management wants him to be used. There is no doubt about it that all eyes will be on him in near future," he added.