IND vs SA: He Can Go For Runs As Well, But You Need To Have That X-factor – Zaheer Khan On Umran Malik's Inclusion In The Playing XI

Former India left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan, while talking about Umran Malik’s inclusion in the playing XI in the third T20I against South Africa, said that the young pacer can go for runs but India needs to have an x-factor in the team.

Umran Malik got his India call-up after his outstanding performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. The express pacer picked 22 wickets in 14 games at an average of 20.18, an economy of 9.03 and a strike rate of 13.40, including a four-wicket haul and a five-wicket haul.

Also, he finished at the 4th spot on the list of leading wicket-takers in the tournament and the Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer won the Emerging Player of the Season award.

After India’s poor bowling display in the middle-overs in the first two games against South Africa, many pundits have backed Umran’s inclusion in the playing XI as he had bowled exceptionally well in the middle-overs in the Indian Premier League 2022 for the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Extra pace can be handy –Zaheer Khan

India pace-bowling great Zaheer Khan said that the extra pace can be very handy for the Indian team. He further explained how the young express pacer Umran can deal with the threat of David Miller, who has been unbeaten in his last few T20 games, and Heinrich Klaasen, who played a match-winning knock in the second T20I.

“Extra pace can be handy. That is something that I feel, we have seen in IPL as well. You have seen Umran get (David) Miller out as well on one occasion with the ball coming around the wicket, bowling fast. So, that’s something that can be a good match-up.

“With (Heinrich) Klaasen as well, the way he was batting if you get that extra pace, the x-factor. He can go for runs as well, but you need to have that x-factor. Something different which will maybe have that impact. So, I think the inclination will be towards Umran for the next match,” Zaheer Khan said in a discussion on Cricbuzz.

South Africa are leading the five-match T20I series by 2-0 and the victory in the third T20I at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam will help them win their first-ever bilateral T20 series in India.

Also Read: IND vs SA: Yuzvendra Chahal Has Been Ineffective Against South Africa – Aakash Chopra

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