'Trying to pat him on shoulder and encourage him'- Dale Steyn lauds Umran Malik's consistent pace in IPL 2022

The IPL has played a pivotal role in the emergence of fast bowlers over the years. The list includes the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, T. Natarajan, and the latest one to join the list is Umran Malik. Malik has made a tremendous impact since he first burst onto the scene last season and since then has been clocking over 150 kph consistently.

Meanwhile, the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling coach Dale Steyn has credited the Indian Premier League for India’s revolution in the fast bowling department. Giving further clarification on one of his latest disciples Umran Malik, the Proteas pace icon gave a special mention to the emerging talent and lauded his ability to bowl at 150 kph. At the same time, Steyn has also gone on to say that it is now up to India with regards to managing him from hereon as he waits eagerly to don the national jersey.

Umran Malik is the only guy that consistently bowls over 145-150kmph every single ball: Dale Steyn

“I am just trying to pat him on the shoulder and really encourage him when he bowls well — to stick to the things that he is doing well and try and create forward-thinking for him, so that he learns the tools of the trade when he is bowling. If he feels he’s under pressure, he can develop a particular delivery and get himself out of the situation. These are the things that myself, Bhuvi, Nattu, and Tom work with him”, said Steyn while speaking to Sportstar.

“Umran will play international cricket, there is no doubt in my mind about that. He bowls at 150kmph consistently, and nobody else is doing that in the world right now. Maybe Lockie Ferguson is the other guy who does it, but they are very different bowlers. But from an Indian point of view, he is the only guy that consistently bowls over 145-150kmph every single ball, so he will play for India. But how India manages him is completely up to them”, he added.

At the same time, the former tearaway fast bowler also added that the Jammu and Kashmir cricketer is learning his trade day by day. Talking about Umran Malik, he was one of SRH’s mandatory retentions for IPL 2022 along with skipper Kane Williamson and Jammu and Kashmir teammate Abdul Samad. Apart from bowling express pace deliveries, the pacer has also succeeded in making the ball talk as well with a four-wicket haul and a fifer and is currently placed third in the Purple Cap list with 15 scalps to his name.