India has developed a lot of quality pace bowlers in recent years with bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami widely regarded as among the finest in the world, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has also seen the development of young fast bowlers from all over the country. In the IPL 2021, Umran Malik was one of those bowlers that wowed fans and former cricketers alike with his remarkable speeds. The 22-year-old was also chosen as one of India's net bowlers in the T20 World Cup and was one out of the three players that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) retained for IPL 2022.
Malik has continued to break the speed barriers in SRH's games this season, and veteran South Africa pacer Dale Steyn, who is a member of the Sunrisers team management (fast bowling coach), anticipates big things from the J&K pacer.
Steyn said Malik has the potential "to feature heavily" in the future along with South Africa's Marco Jansen, in a recent question-and-answer session on his official Twitter page.
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The former South African pacer also provided some words of wisdom for the young Indian fast bowler.
“Never lose pace. Anyone can bowl 130/135,” Steyn said about Umran Malik. “But yes, some variety in his skills will take him a long way forward.”
Malik has routinely surpassed the 150 kph barrier this season, but it has come at a big cost in his four games for the team thus far. The 22-year-old bowler has three wickets to his name while maintaining an economy rate of 10.42.
Meanwhile, with Washington Sundar's injury, a resurgent Sunrisers Hyderabad will be forced to tinker with their winning combination when they meet Kolkata Knight Riders later tonight. SRH has turned things around with back-to-back victories over Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans, and Kane Williamson's side is aiming for a hat-trick of wins.
