'Extra pace can be handy' - Zaheer Khan reckons Umran Malik should come in for 3rd South Africa T20I

Former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan believes that India might pick Umran Malik for the third T20I against South Africa on June 14 (Tuesday) at Dr. Y.S.R. ACA VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam. Malik took the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 by storm with his fiery pace and wicket-taking abilities for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

Zaheer feels that some extra pace might come in handy for India. The former pacer also noted that Malik got the wicket of South Africa batter David Miller in the competition while bowling from around the wicket, which he thinks might be a good match-up. 

“Inclination might be towards Umran for the next match. Extra pace can be handy. We have seen that in the IPL. We have seen Umran get (David) Miller out on one occasion with the ball, coming around the wicket and bowling really fast,” said Zaheer in a discussion with Cricbuzz.

Inclination might be towards Umran for the next match: Zaheer Khan

Zaheer reckons that a fast bowler coming in for the next T20I game might be possible due to the small dimensions of ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, which might put spinners under pressure. Malik bowled one of the fastest delivery in the history of the IPL in this season.

“That’s something which can be a good match-up. You can go for runs as well, but you need to have that X-factor, something different which will, maybe, have that impact. We might see a quick bowler coming in. I am expecting that one change purely because the ground is small,” Zaheer said.

The pacer  is known for bowling some darting lines on the stumps, cramping batters with pace, and has the ability to clock above 150 kilometers per hour with the ball consistently. The 22-year-old, apart from impressing with some tearaway bowling, picked up 22 wickets in 14 games in the IPL 2022, which included 5/25 against Gujarat Titans.