INTERNATIONAL CRICKET

Gautam Gambhir and Irfan Pathan give their opinions on Umran Malik

Umran Malik

India and Sunrisers Hyderabad speedster, Umran Malik has received great accolades from former India players.

Gautam Gambhir and Irfan Pathan are highly impressed with the youngster’s bowling in the first T20I against Sri Lanka.

However, Gambhir feels that Malik should not compromise his speed in order to bowl slow deliveries.

He wants Umran to be his usual self even if he gets hit for a few boundaries in T20Is.

From his quota of four overs, Umran returned with figures of 2/27 and his spell was crucial in giving India their first win of the new year.

When asked about his thoughts on Umran, Gambhir said,

There will be matches where Umran Malik will bowl amazingly well and there will be matches where he will prove expensive. Will you still persist with him? Will the bowling coach still encourage him to bowl fast because in T20, once you prove expensive a few times, you are asked to develop slower ones or cutters. You don’t want to see that from Umran Malik.

Elaborating further, Gambhir says,

Either you have the pace or you don’t, either you can bowl fast or you can’t. The management’s role becomes extremely important here. He will keep getting better the more he plays. You learn yourselves at times while playing international cricket.

In the match, Malik dismissed Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka at crucial moments to hand India their 2-run victory.

Irfan Pathan impressed with Umran’s economy rate

On the other hand, former India allrounder Irfan Pathan is super impressed with Umran’s economy rate.

Umran’s economy rate in the first T20I was under 8 which is the first time for the young pacer.

Says Irfan,

He had played three matches till now in T20I cricket. His economy was close to 10. It was the first time his economy was under eight, which is fantastic. He gave away only 27 runs and picked up two wickets.

Irfan also commented upon the improving pace of Umran and said that he is using it quite effectively.

It was not that he was looking at 150 kph right from the start. We saw the control, saw balls around 144 kph, and then when he felt that it was time to put in the effort, you also saw 155 kph.

Concluding, Irfan said that Umran will be seen bowling regularly for India in the middle overs of the 50-over World Cup later this year.

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