Umran Malik silenced his opponents as he returned to form after picking up 3 wickets for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 61 of IPL 2022 at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Saturday.
The young pacer from Srinagar had turned heads in the first half of the IPL 2022 season with his superior control and fear-inducing pace, justifying SRH’s decision to retain him ahead of the mega auction. Umran picked up 15 wickets in his 8 matches as he was among the top 5 in the list of leading wicket takers in IPL 2022.
However, the young pacer’s form waned as he had been wicket-keeping in SRH’s last 3 matches even as the former champions went through a slump after stitching up winning runs in the first 5 matches of the season. .
Just after taking his maiden 5 wicket haul against Gujarat Titans on 27 April, Umran conceded 48 runs in his 4 over spell against Chennai Super Kings on 1 May. He was taken to the cleaners by Delhi Capitals as he scored 52 runs. In his quota of 4 overs.
Umran then bowled only 2 overs against Royal Challengers Bangalore on 8 May, conceding 25 runs.
Coming back after a break of 6 days, Umran looked upbeat against KKR, bowling good pace and good length and line.
Umran was rewarded as he dismissed KKR’s batsmen Nitish Rana (26) and Ajinkya Rahane (28) in his first over. Umran then returned to remove KKR captain Shreyas Iyer, who hit him straight at the deep mid-wicket fielder.
Umran has dismissed the KKR captain twice in the season. In his reverse fixture, the young pacer struck Iyer with an unstoppable yorker that pleased SRH’s bowling mentor Dale Steyn.
Umran finished with figures of 3/33.
Umran’s mentor and former India cricketer, Irfan Pathan was happy with the fast bowler’s return.
Push him when he does well, support him when he doesn’t. He is still young but has immense potential. well done my boy #umran malik
—Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) 14 May 2022
In a tweet, Irrfan said, “Push him when he does well, support him when he doesn’t. He is still young, but he has a lot of potential. Well done my boys.”
Despite Umran’s impressive figures, KKR amassed 177 runs in 20 overs on the two-paced pitch as Andre Russell scored an unbeaten 49 off just 28 balls, including 3 sixes in the final over from off-spinner Washington Sundar.