Ravi Shastri, Daniel Vettori Opine On Umran Malik's Selection For India In T20 World Cup 2022
PC - Twitter

Former Indian men’s cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri and former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori have expressed their views on Umran Malik playing for India in the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.

The Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler earned plaudits for his sheer pace and ability to bowl thunderbolt speed deliveries, breaching the 150kmph on regular basis.

Umran Malik
Umran Malik. Image: IPL/BCCI

Malik bowled 157kmph in a match against Delhi Capitals as the fastest ball of the tournament, only for Gujarat Titans pacer Lockie Ferguson (157.3kmph) to break the record in the final.

Umran Malik was the fourth-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2022

Malik picked 22 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 20.18 and was the fourth-highest wicket-taker this season behind Kagiso Rabada (23), Wanindu Hasaranga (26) and Yuzvendra Chahal (27).

The 22-year-old bagged his maiden five-wicket haul – 5/25 against Gujarat Titans in the second leg. Four of his five dismissals came as clean bowled.

SRH's Umran Malik- Photo- BCCI
SRH’s Umran Malik- Photo- BCCI

Umran Malik should play 50-over cricket and Test cricket first – Ravi Shastri

Following his monumental success in IPL 2022 with SRH, the J & K pacer received a maiden call-up for India in the T20I series against South Africa at home.

Read More  "Madness in Hyderabad" - Twitter reacts as SRH batters outshine Hardik Pandya's MI in historic IPL 2024 clash

Many experts believe Malik could be on the flight to Australia for the showpiece event in the October-November period.

But Shastri is of the opinion that the 22-year-old must be groomed first playing the long formats like Tests and ODIs. Vettori agreed with Shastri’s comments on Malik’s selection for the T20 World Cup.

No, not T20 as yet. Groom him. Take him along with the team. If anything, let him start playing white-ball cricket, that is 50-over cricket, maybe even red-ball cricket. Groom him in the red ball team and then see how it goes,” Shastri told ESPNCricinfo.

“He should be around the Indian team all the time, even if he is not in the squad. Because I think they need to manage him. I don’t think he has leapfrogged any of the fast bowlers that are the first-choice but his time will come,” Vettori said.

Malik could make his international debut in Indian colours on Thursday (June 9), when India takes on South Africa in the first T20 International game in Delhi.

Also Read: IPL 2022: Umran Malik Credits Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kane Williamson For His IPL Success