IPL 2021: Was Scared To Bowl To David Warner And Kane Williamson In Nets: Umran Malik

Sunrisers Hyderabad rookie bowler Umran Malik opened up on his journey to IPL from U-19 days. SRH defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by four runs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi to win their third game of the season.

Riding on opener Jason Roy (44) and skipper Williamson’s (31) knocks SRH posted 141/7 on a sluggish track where the ball was hard to connect for the batters.

Malik used a short of length delivery to tickle Srikar Bharat’s glove down the leg side to claim his first IPL wicket.

SRH defended 141 against RCB as Umran Malik picks maiden IPL wicket

The Srinagar bowler has impressed the cricket fraternity with his destructive speed deliveries as he clocked more than 150kph in his first game on a couple of occasions.

I used to bowl fast with a tennis ball also: Umran Malik

In the match against RCB, Malik recorded a 153kph speed, the highest in this season, in the ninth over when he bowled Devdutt Padikkal a full toss.

Malik said that he was focused on getting a wicket against RCB and recalled his days while playing with the tennis ball and how former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan helped him improve his bowling.

“I was determined to take a wicket against RCB and I just wanted to take a wicket,” Malik told SRH teammate Bhuvneshwar Kumar in a video posted on IPL’s official website.

“From the very starting, I used to bowl fast. When I played cricket with Cosco ball, I used to bowl fast then also. We used to play one over matches and I used to run in and bowl fast yorkers. In 2018, U-19 trials came and I was bowling, the selectors saw me. I was bowling with jogger shoes, then my friend gave me spike shoes and I then came into the U-19 team. Then I played Under-23 cricket.

“In 2018, I was practicing regularly. After Under-23, I played Vijay Hazare and Ranji Trophy. I thank the SRH franchise for giving me an opportunity. Irfan Pathan came and he told me where I can improve. I was scared at first when I had to bowl to Warner and Williamson in the nets. I prayed to god that I just bowl good balls. I kept on learning and this has helped me,” he added.

SRH will take some pride to take from this game before they play Mumbai Indians in the final match on Friday (October 8).

Also Read: IPL 2021: Umran Malik’s Biggest Asset Is His Pace, Says Jason Holder