Former India cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar has batted for Umran Malik’s inclusion in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup 2022, saying that the latter is an exciting talent and looked the best bowler in the IPL 2022 season.
Playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the recently held IPL, Malik impressed one and all with his express pace. He consistently bowled over the 150 kmph mark in the cash-rich league.
The 22-year-old featured in all 14 league matches for SRH, claiming 22 wickets at an economy rate of 9.03. For his impressive showing in IPL 15, the Srinagar lad earned the Emerging Player award and also received his maiden call-up to the senior Indian team for the recently-concluded home T20I series against South Africa.
“I hope so because he (Umran) is a very exciting talent. He did well in the IPL and he deserves a chance as he looked the best bowler in the format. I hope he is in the plane and I am sure he will do well if given an opportunity,” Vengsarkar told reporters on Saturday (June 25).
The T20 World Cup is slated to be held in Australia in October-November later this year.
“He (Umran) is young and raring to go. You must give an opportunity to someone who is in form. He is young, keen to play and hungry for success,” he added.
While Umran Malik didn’t get a game against South Africa, he is likely to make his India debut in the two-T20I tour of Ireland, beginning June 26.
Former India all-rounder Roger Binny also endorsed Vengsarkar’s views, opining that Umran should be given a chance straightaway in all three formats.
“There is definitely going to be a bigger bunch of fast bowlers coming through now. And he (Umran) should be given a chance straightaway because he has proved that he is quick and if you saw him bowl some of the yorkers in the IPL that was brute force. So you cannot keep a youngster out for that long,” Binny said.
“Well, I am not surprised that somebody, who is coming to the scene (and bowling over 150 kmph), because we have a lot of people (bowling) around the 140-142 area for the last six-seven years and especially in the IPL. I am not surprised (by the sheer pace of Umran).”
The duo was speaking on the sidelines of the book-launch of ‘The 1983 World Cup Opus.’
(With PTI inputs)
