Umran Malik rose to fame during the Indian Premier League with Sunrisers Hyderabad. He impressed everyone with his raw pace. He regularly touched speeds above 150 kph. Because of his fast bowling, he was quickly picked for the Indian team. Malik played 10 ODIs and 8 T20Is for India. He took 13 wickets in ODIs and 11 in T20Is.
However, his career soon faced obstacles. Repeated injuries and illness kept him out of action. The 26-year-old missed the entire 2024–25 domestic season. He also missed the IPL earlier this year. After a long gap of nearly 17 months, Malik finally returned to competitive cricket. He made his comeback in the Ranji Trophy this season. He is now part of the Jammu and Kashmir squad for the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025.
Malik knows injuries are part of a fast bowler’s life. But he is clear about one thing. He will not reduce his speed.
He said, “Every fast bowler in the world knows that injuries are going to be a part of his career. But speed is my natural aspect. How can I compromise with that? Speed is my biggest strength, and I want to continue to maintain that strength,” Malik told ESPNcricinfo on the sidelines of Jammu and Kashmir’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Hyderabad in Kolkata on December 4.
He further added, “You can’t bowl at 150(kph) straight away. You reach that speed gradually. I don’t want to show my speed to anyone, but I want to show my wickets. But it is also that after ten years [of bowling at a competitive level], I want to bowl at 140 [from 150] and not come down to a speed of 130 from 150,” he added.
Umran Malik Says Fitness Matters More Than Money
Last season, Malik was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad. But he did not play a single match. Despite that, KKR have retained him for IPL 2026. Malik said money is not his main focus. He only wants to stay fit and perform well.
He said, “I know that for many Indian fast bowlers, it is not that difficult to be part the IPL. It’s probably easy for me too, but I’m not just thinking of taking part in the tournament. Money is not a concern. The first and last thing is that my fitness and form should be such that I play every match for the team and take wickets. If I can’t do this, then what will be my value as a player?” Malik asked.
He ended by saying, “I will work as hard as I have to. I will learn where I make mistakes. I will take care of myself and want to make my comeback memorable,” he added.
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Malik now hopes to stay injury-free. He wants to make a strong return through consistent performances.
