Umran Malik has taken the cricket world by storm with his bowling in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. The 21-year-old bowler has claimed 9 wickets in 6 matches so far and has been a great asset for his franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Dale Steyn, the bowling coach for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, has described what it's like for players to face the speedster in the nets. The youngster is capable of continuously reaching speeds of around 150 kmph.
While speaking to Hindustan Times, Steyn revealed how the youngster's pace has often left his teammates floored in the nets.
"It's less coaching and more like excitement. I am at the top of the mark with them and we just talk: 'What are you going to bowl now? What are you thinking?' We talk cricket the whole time. I am not dictating to him. I get so excited when he says, 'I am going to bowl a yorker.’ He bowls one and knocks the batsman over in the nets. 'Coach, I am going to bowl a bouncer.’ I say go for it, and then you see the batsman lying on his back in the nets. It's really exciting standing so close and being able to watch that happen. He has got better and better. He has found rhythm, how he likes to take wickets, wants to bowl. Also, he has been allowed by the captain and coach to do what he wants."
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Though Umran Malik proved expensive with the ball in the first few matches, the SRH bowling coach revealed how he was able to lend some advice to the Jammu and Kashmir lad which later helped him become even more efficient.
"Confidence is the big thing. The first two-three games, he went for a couple of runs; that's what happens when you are a fast bowler, bowling at the speed he is bowling at. You can very easily lose a little bit of faith in yourself, you might want to change something - 'maybe I should bowl slightly slower with more control'. But he has been given the go-ahead by the coaching staff," the South African legend explained.
"The guys have told him 'there are going to be days when you will go for runs because of how fast you bowl, not because you bowl badly'. Another day you run in and take four wickets and bowl a maiden over, that's also what pace does. You have to take the good with the bad. He has realized that if he sits in that middle ground, he is going to be successful. He is accepting the days when things will not go well because of his pace and loving the days when it goes really well. Then being humble by bringing himself back to the middle ground where he can carry on. It is great to see that."
The Sunrisers will next take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Saturday (April 23) at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
(HT INPUTS)
