Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Umran Malik said he aims to play for India again after returning from injury during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The young bowler said he is confident that taking wickets at his natural pace, around 150 kmph, will help him make a comeback into the national cricket team.
Malik, who was seen as one of the country’s most exciting fast bowling prospects, has not played for India since July 2023. He has taken 24 wickets in 10 ODIs and 8 T20Is. However, injuries and a decline in form dropped him out of the selectors’ plans. Now they are not even counted as backup options.
Those who bowl 150 balls are not strike bowlers – Umran Malik
Umran Malik said that bowlers who can bowl at a speed of 150 kmph are aggressive bowlers, not defensive ones. He said that such fast bowlers can give runs but also create opportunities to take wickets.
“Let me tell you one thing. Those who bowl 150 balls are not strike bowlers; they are aggressive bowlers. They will score 30 (runs) in four (overs) but will also give you wickets. That’s what a fast bowler is. He should know what he has to do,” Umran told select media after Jammu and Kashmir’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Uttar Pradesh.
He is a king and he has to support himself – Umran Malik
Umran Malik said that bowling at a speed of 150 km per hour requires courage and confidence and not many bowlers can do that. Malik said that extreme speed is a natural skill and cannot be developed overnight. The fast bowler said that he has been bowling at the same pace continuously for five years.
“A bowler who bowls at 150 kmph knows he is a king and has to support himself. Not everyone can bowl at 150 kmph. It requires real courage to bowl at 150 kmph, and I have been doing that for the last five years.”
“Bowling at 150 kmph is an art; you can’t go from 137 to 145 straight away. Train, do whatever you want – it’s natural, it’s all natural. You need to train yourself accordingly, eat properly, rest properly, keep your body fresh so that you are ready for the process tomorrow.”
“Speed is my natural aspect; how can I compromise that? Training, running, cardio—you have to keep up. There’s no special diet. Speed is my strength. I have to get my strength back.”
Umran Malik impresses in SMAT ahead of IPL 2026 after being retained by KKR
Umran Malik, who has been retained by Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 2026, has performed brilliantly in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In Round 2, he took 3/37 against Uttar Pradesh in Kolkata, after 2/24 in Round 1 against Maharashtra.
After four matches in this year’s SMAT, Umran has taken 6 wickets at an average of 22.50 and an economy rate of 9.64. In his overall T20 career, he now has 71 wickets in 58 matches at an average of 24.77 and an economy rate of 9.14.
Umran made his IPL debut in 2021 and rose to prominence in IPL 2022 when he took 22 wickets for Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, he struggled in the following years and played only one match in 2024. He later moved to KKR but did not feature in the playing eleven last season.
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