Umran Malik debuts in IPL, bowls fastest deliver of the season: 151.03 KPH
Becomes 4th player from J&K to play IPL; LG extends best wishes; netizens hail mentor Irfan Pathan
SRINAGAR: The injury of Sunrisers Hyderabad seamer provided an opportunity for J&K pacer, Umran Malik, to make an impressive debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday.
Umran Malik, a resident of Gujjar Nagar, Jammu is the fourth player from Jammu and Kashmir to get a cap in the IPL after Parvaiz Rasool, Rasikh Salam and Abdul Samad.
“We’ve been facing him in the nets and it’s something quite special. He’s got a lot of pace, he runs in and goes hard. He racked up some fast speeds as well, which is pretty special. What a talent! (sic),” Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Kane Williamson said as per the official tweeter page of the team.
“Umran has completed his full quota of overs and has impressed in his first #IPL match. He finishes with figures of 4-0-27-0,” the Sunrisers Hyderabad tweeted.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday extended best wishes to Umran Malik, who in his very first match of IPL bowled the fastest delivery 151.03 kph by an Indian pacer this season.
“Heartiest congratulations to Umran Malik on IPL debut today from the Sunrisers Hyderabad Team. You have made the entire Jammu Kashmir proud. You are the inspiration for many young cricketers. Best wishes for your cricket career ahead (sic),” office of the LG tweeted. Nitizens also praised former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan for nurturing J&K’s young talent.
Pathan spent the last few years of his professional career with the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team. He was the player and mentor of the team. Several players have credited him for the improvement and development of the J & K team.
“Irfan Pathan can be a great talent scout. First Samad and now Malik (sic),” Mohit Rohitian tweeted. “Abdul Samad and Umran Malik both were mentored by Irfan Pathan. Time to involve Pathan in the Indian coaching setup (sic),” another person tweeted.
Umran Malik was on Friday named as a “short-term” replacement for left-arm seamer T Natarajan in the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) squad for the remainder of IPL 2021. Natarajan tested positive for Covid-19 on the eve of SRH’s match against the Delhi Capitals and has been isolated from the rest of the squad.
