How Umran Malik is plotting his comeback path

[Tillu]

Two months have passed since the IPL ended and India’s domestic season is around the corner with several key prominent players likely to feature in pre-season tournaments like Buchi Babu Tournament to be held across Tamil Nadu. Among the 12 teams in the fray is Jammu and Kashmir but there is no sight of Umran Malik yer, the tearaway who turned heads and hit the toes of batsmen in the 2022 IPL.

“I would have loved to play in the tournament, but I’m just recovering from dengue,” Umran tells The Indian Express from Jammu. He played just one match in the last IPL and only eight the season before for Sunrisers Hyderabad, a franchise that put him in the limelight. So much so it looks like a long time ago when Umran, with a bustling run-up that bore uncanny resemblance to Waqar Younis, was the nation’s toast, clocking 150kmph effortlessly.

Umran admits that missing out on valuable game time in the Ranji Trophy contributed to this tough phase. After working closely with Dale Steyn at the IPL, he worked with former India pacer Irfan Pathan during the domestic season too. But with the weather playing spoilsport in Jammu & Kashmir Ranji fixtures, he bowled only 47 overs the entire season.

 

“I was fully prepared that season, but the weather didn’t help. Then I was really looking forward to the IPL as I’d gained a lot in the months preceding the IPL. Unfortunately even that didn’t go the way I wanted. But it also gave me the time to work on things I wanted to in the practice sessions. I’ve definitely become a better bowler if you ask me. After the IPL, I injured my hamstring and just as I recovered I’m down with dengue,” Umran adds.

 

The recurrent setbacks have been a tough pill to swallow. But the coming season will be a fresh beginning of sorts for the 24-year-old, who has also used the time to work with Irfan to make minor tweaks to his action. “Last season, he was opening up a bit too early but I didn’t want to advise him in the middle of the tournament because it can confuse a player,” Pathan says.

 

No compromise on pace

In a recent interview with The Indian Express, Paras Mhambrey, who was India’s bowling coach till the T20 World Cup said Umran has to find control that will complement his pace. While India has seen the likes of Munaf Patel compromise pace in favour of swing and control, the latter doesn’t want the same to happen with Umran. Instead, Pathan has now made him bowl a lot with the new ball as it would bring more control to his bowling.

“First of all I don’t want him to compromise on pace. That’s the most important thing. I want him to bowl with a new ball in the nets which will allow him to gain better control. If he bowls with the new ball regularly, he will have a better idea of the length. He will also understand that swing will come with good wrist position. This is the primary focus, but other than this, he has been working on his yorkers,” Pathan says.

 

If Umran is spending time with Pathan to add more arsenal to his bowling, once he is at the National Cricket Academy he concentrates on the fitness aspect, nuancing tactics and other variations with Troy Cooley, who was bowling coach of England and Australia team in the past decade.

“These days I’m bowling a lot with the new ball because I believe swing can make a huge difference at my pace. I want to learn a few things, especially how to formulate a plan and execute it. If you have that, then you will be better prepared to handle the challenges. When I’m bowling in a match, it is not about myself or what I do. I’ve to fit into the bowling group and their plans and compliment them. So I need to be equipped on that front. Even with the new ball, I’m trying to bowl yorkers because if I’m able to execute it properly, then I will get the confidence to bowl it all the time. You need to find ways to surprise the batsmen,” Umran says.

With the important tour of Australia slated at the end of the year where India will play five Tests, the selectors and the team management are keenly tracking Umran. With India’s pace bowling resources thin, a fully fit and in-form Umran could be a handy asset on the quick and bouncy Australian conditions. Speaking to reporters recently in Chennai, former India bowling coach Bharat Arun spoke on the need to groom Umran for the Australia series.

 

Umran is tempted by the prospect of bowling in Australia, but for now his priority is get back on the field. “I want to keep it simple. My plan is to be ready for the domestic season. If I play more matches, then I would definitely be a better bowler. Even though I played only five Ranji matches, I realised how much I gained out of it. I’m waiting for the Duleep Trophy. If I play the entire season then I will know where exactly I stand and it will open up opportunities. I’m waiting to hold the red ball in my hand,” Umran says.

 

IndianExpress

[gattaca]

Australia is graveyard for bowlers if they don’t have a proper plan and bowl accordingly.  I don’t know how many FC matches he played but need to take someone who played at least 2-3 seasons.

[StraightDrive26]

Umran Malik is not ready for test cricket. He needs to make a comeback to white ball formats and learn to bowl with control. He only has 12 FC games and averages 44. Needs to bowl a lot in FC cricket and learn control with speed. He needs to idolise someone like Brett Lee, who had the pace and also incredible accuracy, which made him one of the best bowlers to play ODIs. We did the mistake of taking Varun Aaron to Australia just for his pace in 2015 and even though he had some good spells, he lacked experience and it showed when Australian batters attacked him. He lacked plan and was all over the place. Umran needs at least 2 full seasons of domestic experience with good coaches, I don't think India are in the space they were a decade ago and can actually nurture fast bowlers. India need to keep an eye on Mayank Yadav as well and make sure he does not lose his pace and accuracy. Umran and Mayank can serve India for a long time if they remain fit.

[MK55]

“Even with the new ball, I’m trying to bowl yorkers because if I’m able to execute it properly, then I will get the confidence to bowl it all the time. You need to find ways to surprise the batsmen.”

 

“I’m waiting for the Duleep Trophy. If I play the entire season then I will know where exactly I stand and it will open up opportunities. I’m waiting to hold the red ball in my hand,”

 

Hopefully he gets to play all the matches in the Duleep trophy. 

 

 

[express bowling]

22 minutes ago, MK55 said:

“Even with the new ball, I’m trying to bowl yorkers because if I’m able to execute it properly, then I will get the confidence to bowl it all the time. You need to find ways to surprise the batsmen.”

 

“I’m waiting for the Duleep Trophy. If I play the entire season then I will know where exactly I stand and it will open up opportunities. I’m waiting to hold the red ball in my hand,”

 

Hopefully he gets to play all the matches in the Duleep trophy. 

 

 

All good signs.

[Lord]

He needs to model himself on Waqar. Should perfect the yorker alongwith swinging the ball.

[Vilander]

Pakistan or India team?.. Oh k

 

[Vilander]

Not sure may be because of better olympic tradition that pakistan has he might be tempted to play there.. That's all. OK bye

[cricketfan28]

It's over for him.

[Need4Speed]

1 hour ago, cricketfan28 said:

It's over for him.

what happened..he got another injury or you mean in general?

[Need4Speed]

I know its Unran’s thread but here is Mayank Yadav’s update:

https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/mayank-yadav-raw-pace-nca-paras-mhambrey-9524041/lite/

[rkt.india]

1 hour ago, Need4Speed said:

I know its Unran’s thread but here is Mayank Yadav’s update:

https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/mayank-yadav-raw-pace-nca-paras-mhambrey-9524041/lite/

He should return only when fully fit. No need to hurry.

[MK55]

This Mhambrey has lost his mind

 

“I am not looking at the next 10 or 15 years. I want to see what he can do in the next five. The next three-four years will be extremely crucial for him. Once he is 25-26, he will understand his body much better. And then he will have a good five years at the international level.”

“I strongly feel Mayank needs to grind it out in the domestic season,” says the former India pacer.”

He makes some decent points in between but then also goes totally nonsensical. 
 

 

Also the NCA looks incompetent.  

The article talks about him being asked to bowl 10-15 overs a day as a part of rehab. If he can bowl that many overs, I rather start playing him in limited overs internationals provided he has recovered from his injuries/inflammation. 

Conditioning his body for the longer format is gonna take time. But you can’t ignore the shorter format and not play him. 

Did Australia ever only play Brett Lee after he turned 25/26?? Such morons these guys are. 

 

 

Edited August 21 by MK55

[AKane]

Plotting his "comeback" ?

 

He was never there or anywhere to "comeback".

 

He needs to plot his "appearance" rather than comeback.

[Need4Speed]

5 hours ago, AKane said:

Plotting his "comeback" ?

 

He was never there or anywhere to "comeback".

 

He needs to plot his "appearance" rather than comeback.

He got some injury earlier and then Dengue recently..hence he did not play some domestic tournaments..

I would like to see how much he has improved during this long gap..

[Need4Speed]

19 hours ago, rkt.india said:

He should return only when fully fit. No need to hurry.

Yes he is very young..and hasnt gone through lot of workload of bowling overs which others do coming from age group cricket..we need to handle him with care and time so his body has enough strength to sustain such express pace bowling.. 

Even if it means we expose him to high workload gradually in 2 years we shoukd wait for it..

Its rare to find express pacers in India and one who is accurate too..extremely rare..

Lets not mess this up!

 

I am not an expert but these are my general thoughts..

[Vilander]

I think kashmir should have an international cricket team, if Afghanistan can do well so can kashmir.

[Suhaan]

23 hours ago, MK55 said:

This Mhambrey has lost his mind

 

“I am not looking at the next 10 or 15 years. I want to see what he can do in the next five. The next three-four years will be extremely crucial for him. Once he is 25-26, he will understand his body much better. And then he will have a good five years at the international level.”

“I strongly feel Mayank needs to grind it out in the domestic season,” says the former India pacer.”

He makes some decent points in between but then also goes totally nonsensical. 
 

 

Also the NCA looks incompetent.  

The article talks about him being asked to bowl 10-15 overs a day as a part of rehab. If he can bowl that many overs, I rather start playing him in limited overs internationals provided he has recovered from his injuries/inflammation. 

Conditioning his body for the longer format is gonna take time. But you can’t ignore the shorter format and not play him. 

Did Australia ever only play Brett Lee after he turned 25/26?? Such morons these guys are. 

 

 

I don't think he's wrong here or his intentions aren't at question

He wanted to say his body needs to get strong by sending down few overs in FC cricket and get his body strong by playing more cricket

It's upto the selectors and TM to fast track him or don't waste him long in domestics,what's in his hand he should use it properly

Tyagi is one example ,who is continuously away from domestic cricket be it for N number of reasons, suddenly shows up in IPL only to expect he will play most of the matches

Why selectors would trust a guy like him who doesn't seem to play domestics and only IPL(there too he's 95% of the times seen on bench)?

[Austin 3:!6]

3 hours ago, Vilander said:

I think kashmir should have an international cricket team, if Afghanistan can do well so can kashmir.

 

You want to divide India and form Azad Kashmir?

[singhvivek141]

3 hours ago, Vilander said:

I think kashmir should have an international cricket team, if Afghanistan can do well so can kashmir.

Won't happen unless India collapses.