IND vs SA: 'He Should Play': Sunil Gavaskar Wants Umran Malik To Be Included In Team India Playing XI For 3rd T20I

Young fast-bowler Umran Malik received his first India call-up following his stunning exploits for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the recently finished 2022 Indian Premier League season.

The 22-year-old was included in India’s 18-man team for the five-match T20I series currently underway. However, in the first two games, the fast bowler was unable to secure a spot in the starting eleven. 

Sunil Gavaskar Excited To See Umran Malik In Indian Colors

India used the tried-and-true strategy of starting with the senior players in the first two T20Is. However, after India’s back-to-back losses, former Indian captain and great batsman Sunil Gavaskar has batted for Umran’s inclusion in the eleven for the third match. 

The 72-year-old believes it is past time for India to give Umran his debut. After the famous Sachin Tendulkar, the first cricketer to hit 10,000 runs in Test cricket has always complimented the right-arm pacer, who picked up 22 wickets in the IPL this year, and added that Umran is the only cricketer he gets thrilled to see. 

“The first player I got excited to see was Sachin Tendulkar. The second player is Umran Malik,” Gavaskar said. 

Sunil Gavaskar Wants Team India To Include Umran Malik In Upcoming Games

Umran wowed everyone with his speed and wicket-taking talents in his debut full season in the cash-rich league. Throughout the season, he regularly bowled at speeds in excess of 150 kph, causing batsmen problems. And his abilities were not confined to fast bowling; he also concluded the season as the fourth top wicket-taker. 

Gavaskar has always complimented the Jammu and Kashmir youngster’s pace and aggression with the ball and has suggested that India should give him a chance in the future T20Is after losing the first two. 

“He should play,” Gavaskar remarked.  

India is down 0-2 in the five-match T20I series at home after losing the first two matches in Delhi and Cuttack. The visitors chastised the Indian bowlers for failing to protect the score in both games. 

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