Promising Indian fast bowler Umran Malik is focused on making a strong comeback after a series of injuries and setbacks. The young pacer, who first grabbed headlines with his blistering pace for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2022 IPL season, has been on a challenging journey, facing injury woes and losing his spot in the national team.
Umran’s performances in IPL 2022 earned him his maiden call-up to the Indian cricket team. However, inconsistency plagued his initial international outings, leading to his exclusion from the squad. In IPL 2024, Malik’s participation was limited to a single over in just one match, diminishing his chances of being part of India’s T20 World Cup squad.
“I’ve definitely become a better bowler if you ask me” – Umran Malik
In an interview with Indian Express, Umran reflected on how these challenges have contributed to his growth as a bowler. “It also gave me the time to work on things I wanted to in the practice sessions. I’ve definitely become a better bowler if you ask me,” Malik shared. He revealed that after the IPL, he suffered a hamstring injury, and just as he recovered, he was hit by dengue.
Malik emphasized his focus on improving his skills with the new ball, stating, “These days I’m bowling a lot with the new ball because I believe swing can make a huge difference at my pace. I want to learn a few things, especially how to formulate a plan and execute it.”
Looking ahead, the Jammu and Kashmir pacer is setting his sights on the domestic season, particularly the Duleep Trophy, as a platform for his comeback. “My plan is to be ready for the domestic season. If I play more matches, then I would definitely be a better bowler. Even though I played only five Ranji matches, I realized how much I gained out of it,” Umran said.
While Malik remains determined, his participation in the upcoming All India Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament on August 15 remains uncertain due to his ongoing recovery from dengue.
