“The focus is on bowling well, not on the fastest delivery record,” says Umran Malik
India pace sensation Umran Malik has made his intentions clear that he is looking to focus on his line and lengths instead of chasing the fastest-delivery record of 161 kph currently held by legendary Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar. Malik has said that his plan is to land the ball in the right areas and help India in winning against the Proteas.
Umran Malik emerged as a standout bowler during the recently-concluded Indian Premier League 2022. The Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer consistently clocked over 150 kph to terrorize the opposition’s batting. Malik accounted for 22 wickets in 14 matches in the 15th edition of the IPL and subsequently won the ‘Emerging Player of the Season’ award.
“I want to bowl well, bowl in the right areas,” says Umran Malik
The selectors rewarded the Jammu Express for his brilliant display of the pace bowling during the IPL and selected him for the five-match T20I series against South Africa.
“My focus is not on that record right now. I want to bowl well, bowl in the right areas and help my country win all five matches against South Africa. I want to keep it 150 or above to maintain my body and strength,” said Umran Malik in a recent interview with News24.
The 22-year-old pacer consistently delivered thunderbolts during the mega-event and bowled the 2nd-fastest delivery of the season at 157 kph, just behind the Kiwi pacer Lockie Ferguson’s 157.3 that he delivered in the final. Ever since Umran’s solid showing in the IPL 2022, there have been talks of him surpassing Shoaib Akhtar’s record of the fastest delivery ever.
Meanwhile, Umran Malik credited his SRH and Jammu & Kashmir’s teammate Abdul Samad for his extraordinary pace.
“Abul motivated me a lot. Whenever I used to bowl to him, he would say I am bowling slow. So, then I would deliver with more pace. And then the gym and proper exercise helped me in this,” concluded Umran Malik.
