Umran Malik has announced his participation in the IPL 2021. He was a net bowler for the Sunrisers Hyderabad before being called up to the main squad after T. Natarajan was ruled out.
Malik did not take many wickets in his maiden season, but the right-arm pacer wowed everyone with his quickness. His ability to register 150 kmph on the speedometer assured that he was retained by the Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction.
The Jammu Express restored the team’s management’s faith by winning the IPL 2022 Emerging Player of the Season title. Soon after, Umran Malik made his international debut for India and is currently regarded as one of the best pacers in the country.
Malik was unexpectedly retained by SRH for the IPL 2023 season. His performances, however, have not been up to par thus far. While Dale Steyn, Hyderabad’s fast bowling coach, is a big fan of The Jammu Express, here are three reasons why the Hyderabad-based franchise might consider dropping Umran Malik for tonight’s match against the Kolkata Knight Riders.
1 Umran Malik has given up far too many runs in IPL 2023:
In previous seasons, hitters struggled to score large off Umran Malik’s bowling, but many batters have disrupted The Jammu Express so far in IPL 2023. This season, Malik has leaked 176 runs in 17 overs at an economy rate of more than 10 runs per over. Umran bowled one over and let up 22 runs in the previous game against the Delhi Capitals. SRH’s batters have not batted in harmony in IPL 2023, and the squad cannot afford to continue leaking runs at this rate. Perhaps SRH can rest Malik before bringing him back for the final few league games.
2 Nitish Rana hammered Umran Malik for four fours and two sixes earlier this season in a single over:
Earlier this season, Sunrisers Hyderabad traveled to Kolkata for a match against KKR at the Eden Gardens. Umran Malik bowled to Nitish Rana in the sixth over of that game. KKR were under pressure after losing three early wickets.
Malik, on the other hand, received four fours and two sixes from Rana. In that over, KKR scored 28 runs as the momentum changed in their favor. While SRH won the match in the end, the team management may think twice about starting Malik tonight.
3 Kartik Tyagi deserves a chance for him to prove:
Another quick Indian pace-bowling option is available for Sunrisers Hyderabad’s IPL 2023 lineup. In an IPL 2021 encounter between the Rajasthan Royals and the Punjab Kings, he went by the name of Kartik Tyagi and famously held off four runs in the final over.
Tyagi went to SRH last year, but he hasn’t had many chances to show his worth. In IPL 2023, the fast bowler has so far served as a bench warmer. Malik’s performance this season has been inconsistent; therefore, SRH may think about giving Tyagi one more try.