'He told me where I can improve' - Umran Malik recalls how Irfan Pathan helped him improve his game

Sunrisers Hyderabad have been known to have a good Indian pace-bowling arsenal, but in the IPL 2021, they unveiled an unexpected talent on the stage. Umran Malik, the right-arm pace-bowler from Jammu and Kashmir, has been in the news since making his debut in the Indian Premier League. 

The young pacer has created a buzz around him because of the pace that he generated with the ball during his two matches in the IPL so far. The pacer bowled several deliveries around and above 150 kmph. His fastest ball was recorded to be 153 kmph against Royal Challengers Bangalore. 

After the match, he spoke about his pace and his growth and journey to the IPL. He was part of the group of net bowlers of Sunrisers Hyderabad this season. However, after T Natarajan tested positive with COVID-19 and had to rule himself out for a few matches, Malik came into the main squad as a replacement.

Irfan Pathan came and he told me where I can improve: Umran Malik

“From the very start, 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,” Malik told teammate Bhuvneshwar Kumar in a video posted on iplt20.com.

Who is Umran Malik? 🤔

Where does his passion for bowling fast come from? 🔥

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He further revealed that in 2018 he started practicing regularly. After his appearance in the Under-23 level, he went on to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Ranji Trophy. He then thanked the franchise for the opportunity. The 21-year-old also said the impact which Irfan Pathan had during his time as a player and mentor of Jammu and Kashmir. 

“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. And, I kept on learning and this has helped me,” he added. In the match against RCB, he also picked up his maiden wicket in the IPL, dismissing Srikar Bharat. In two matches so far, he has picked one wicket but has kept an economy rate of just 6.