IPL 2022: Emerging Pace Bowlers Have Exposed Young Indian Batsmen: Sunil Gavaskar

Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar explained how emerging Indian pace bowlers will make a difficult road for young Indian batters ahead. Sunrisers Hyderabad pace bowler Umran Malik is the talking point of IPL 2022 because of his ability to bowl at a raw pace and consistently hit over the 150-mark speed.

Malik clocked the fastest delivery of IPL 2022 with a 157kmph speed in a match against Delhi Capitals. Apart from Malik, Gavaskar named the likes of Kuldeep Sen (Rajasthan Royals), Mohsin Khan (Lucknow Super Giants), and Yash Dayal (Gujarat Titans) in the ranks of emerging pace bowlers.

Emerging pace bowlers have exposed a lot of young Indian batsmen: Sunil Gavaskar

The former Indian captain said these pace bowlers have exposed young Indian batters, which is not a good sign for Indian cricket.

“Pace is something which we always stand up and admire. But along with the pace to have that kind of accuracy is what separates him (Umran) from the others,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports on Thursday (May 18).

“Yes, he bowls 150-plus but generally he bowls about 145kmph. There are two-three other bowlers like Mohsin, and Kuldeep. So, there are bowlers but they are not as accurate as Umran is. So, when you are accurate, you are not giving the batsmen any chance.

“He is so quick you don’t know what to do. In a way, it’s a sad thing what he has done and what Mohsin (Khan) has done, Kuldeep (Sen) has done and (Yash) Dayal as well. All these guys bowling 140-plus, they have exposed a lot of young Indian batsmen. Which is a little bit sad from the Indian cricket point of view,” he added.

Young Indian batters are not playing this quality bowling in domestic cricket: Sunil Gavaskar

Gavaskar noted that players in domestic cricket don’t get the exposure of facing quality pace bowling and then find difficulties in IPL.

“Guys who look very good in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the other domestic T20 competition, which is only for the national players. A lot of players are going around and smashing the ball around because they are not playing with this kind of pace,” he said. 

“They are not playing this quality bowling. Suddenly, now they come here and they don’t know what to do because instead of going like this (on the front foot) suddenly they have to go to the back foot. Which they have not done at all. For one delivery, they might not have done it. 

“They might have transferred their weight. So, while the exciting part is Umran coming through, the little worrying part is lot of the young players at home, we are saying that ‘ok these guys can do the job, once the seniors go’ they really have to work hard on their game to fill in those boots,” he added. 

Malik has snapped 21 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 20, he is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament behind Kagiso Rabada (22), Yuzvendra Chahal (24), and Wanindu Hasaranga (24).

Also Read: IPL 2022: I Think Umran Malik Will Break Shoaib Akhtar’s Fastest Delivery’s Record Very Soon – Parvez Rasool