The Indian cricket team produced an impressive performance in the recently-concluded ODI series against Sri Lanka, as the side registered a four-wicket victory in the second match in Kolkata. Earlier, the Hardik Pandya-led side had also registered a 2-1 series win in the T20Is against the islanders. One of the standout performers for team India in both series was India’s news bowling sensation Umran Malik, who picked regular wickets in all matches.
The young Jammu and Kashmir pacer has produced some noteworthy performances in the recently concluded series and has impressed one and all with his raw pace and amazing bowling skills in the limited opportunities he got. All thanks to his stunning performances, calls have increased for his inclusion in the longest format of the game as well.
Meanwhile, former Australian player Tom Moody, who has worked with Umran Malik during his time at the SunRisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, spoke in detail about the pacer’s career during an interview with Sports Tak. When asked about Umran’s performances so far, Moody said:
“It’s exciting to see the Indian team embracing him and he’s getting the opportunity to play at the highest level. It’s where he is going to do his most amount of learning. Around the high performance environment. He is continuing to improve, like all fast young fast bowlers, it takes time and you have to be patient,”
“But he’s a rare diamond. You rarely find fast bowlers that bowl 150+ kph.”
Further, when asked if Umran should be included in the Test team, Moody insisted that the team needs to be patient with him. Moody said: “For me, I don’t have crystal ball. At the moment, small steps with regard to his development are important. Indian selectors and coaching team realise that it’s important to integrate him in the T20 and fifty-over game. He’s getting those experiences,”
Meanwhile, Umran Malik has been included in the upcoming T20I and ODI series against New Zealand.
India’s squad for NZ ODIs:
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, KS Bharat (wk), Hardik Pandya (vc), Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik
India’s squad for NZ T20Is:
Hardik Pandya (C), Suryakumar Yadav (vc), Ishan Kishan (wk), R Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Y Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Prithvi Shaw, Mukesh Kumar
