Umran Malik has been hitting speeds of over 150 kph regularly in IPL.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer Umran Malik's remarkable bowling speed has left the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 buzzing. Many are demanding for his inclusion in the Indian team to be expedited.
After garnering praises from who's who of the cricketing world, Kapil Dev, India's 1983 World Cup-winning captain, shared his thoughts and has a slightly different perspective on the matter.
Many batsmen in the IPL have been intimidated by Umran's ability to bowl at speeds in excess of 150 kmph. While Kapil admires the Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer's ability to bowl fast, he desires Malik to be more of a steady bowler rather than just a bowler, who can bowl at very high speeds.
"Pace is not that important. Bowling consistently with good pace is more important. Doing it in one match is OK but doing it regularly over a period of 15-20 matches is more important. It's a great achievement. India didn't have pace bowlers earlier but we are now competing with the world thanks to the IPL," Kapil Dev was quoted as saying by Times Now.
Umran isn't the only youngster who's ability has caught the attention in the IPL 2022. Others who have garnered attention include Ayush Badoni, Tilak Verma, and Vaibhav Arora. Even Kapil agrees that the IPL is providing a better platform for unheralded players to demonstrate their abilities.
Not only that, but the former India captain praised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for providing opportunities for young cricketers to hone their skills and reach their full potential in the man's game.
"The Indian cricket board has placed a lot of importance on the infrastructure. This has been hugely beneficial to the young cricketers. The board has given facilities to players," added Kapil.
(With TimesNow inputs)