PBKS vs SRH: Watching Umran Malik Bowl Reminds Me Of Waqar Younis: Irfan Pathan

Umran Malik has been the most sensational bowler of IPL 2022 so far. He has consistently clocked speeds over 150 kmph and in the game against Punjab Kings, he was absolutely unplayable in his spell. He picked up four for 28 included the wickets of Jitesh Sharma, Odean Smith, Rahul Chahar, and Vaibhav Arora.

Umran dismissed Jitesh early on in his spell and came back to take three wickets in the final over of his spell which was also the 20th of the PBKS innings. Punjab were bowled out for 151 which turned out to be not a challenging score for Hyderabad in the end as they won with seven balls to spare.

Meanwhile former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan recalled seeing Umran Malik for the first time when he was the mentor of the Jammu & Kashmir state team briefly.

“The first time I saw him bowl was when I played for Jammu and Kashmir and was their mentor. Watching him bowl reminded me of the great Waqar Younis” said Irfan.

SRH pace bowling coach Dale Steyn also had a word on Umran Malik and his immense talent for bowling fast. Malik’s pace has been terrifying for the batsmen who are yet to understand his line and lengths. He has also delivered accurate yorkers in between which has kept the batsmen guessing.

Someone We Should Keep An Eye On: Dale Steyn On Umran Malik

“Umran is fantastic. It (his performances) is no reflection of me at all. It’s all him at the moment. He has got amazing skills, he is showing everybody, bowling 150 kph. I am kind of living through him, wishing I could do it. But it’s all him at the moment. He is certainly somebody whom we should keep an eye on for the future” Steyn said after Malik’s performance against KKR.

Umran Malik has picked up nine wickets in six games so far in IPL 2022 and is within the top 10 wicket-takers at the moment.