It’s not even surprising anymore: Umran Malik bowled the fasted delivery by an Indian pacer in international cricket, clocking 155 KPH in the first T20I against Sri Lanka, on Tuesday, at the Wankhede.
In the IPL 2022, SRH seamer Umran Malik had delivered balls at high speeds of 157 KPH and 155.6 KPH, and had already become the fastest Indian in the IPL in his first season in 2021.
Now, Umran Malik has cracked the record among Indian pacers at the international level too.
Crucially, more than his speed, the outcome on that delivery was far more important: Dasun Shanaka’s wicket. In the chase of 163, Shanaka was going hammer and tongs and smashed 45 runs off 27 balls, taking the game away from India.
Umran Malik was recalled to bowl a crucial 17th over, and he delivered. It was Umran’s high speed on the ball – 155 KPH – that didn’t allow Shanaka to properly get under the ball and muscle it over cover, and instead he gave a simple catch at cover.
The BCCI posted the video of this breakthrough and the record.
“Express pace! That moment when @umran_malik_01 clocked 155 KPH – the fastest delivery bowled by a #TeamIndia pacer. Are we in for yet another fiery fast bowling spell today in the second #INDvSL T20I,” the BCCI captioned the video.
You can watch it here:
𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙋𝙖𝙘𝙚! ⚡️⚡️
That moment when @umran_malik_01 clocked 1️⃣5️⃣5️⃣ KPH – the fastest delivery bowled by a #TeamIndia pacer ☄️
Are we in for yet another fiery fast bowling spell today in the second #INDvSL T20I 🤔 pic.twitter.com/WH9bY1KfEp
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 5, 2023
Malik delivered a spell of 2/27, with the wickets of Shanaka and Charith Asalanka, that helped significantly to India defending 162 at the Wankhede.
Malik, India’s fastest bowler, is being used as a middle-overs enforcer mainly in T20Is by interim skipper Hardik Pandya. Considering the 2023 ODI World Cup at home, Malik has also been added to the ODI squad. In 9 ODI+T20Is, Malik has taken 11 wickets so far.
