If India’s impressive bowling attack has missed anything in recent years, it’s the pace factor. While the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar can all get the ball up to 150kph and beyond, there are bowlers around the world who have more speed in their armouries.
Pace isn’t everything of course. The swing and seam that those three bowlers, and others, impart has been too much for many opposition batting line ups. But sheer speed is a useful weapon and India may have just found their fastest bowler of all time.
Enter Umran
Umran Malik made a dramatic rise from bowling in the nets to taking part in the latter stages of the 2021 Indian Premier League. He was part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise that struggled at the bottom of the table, but his serious pace won a host of sponsors’ awards.
In the 15th edition of the IPL, Malik continued his progress. Reports claim that he’s bowled deliveries in excess of 163kph in the nets while a more consistent overall average comes in at around the 155kph mark.
The paceman made what many felt was an overdue debut in the national side when he played for India against Ireland in June 2022. It wasn’t the best of starts for the 22-year-old speed merchant who went for 14 runs in his solitary over.
Malik featured again in the second game of the series and he had a bigger part to play. This was the match where Ireland threatened to pull off a shock win, falling just five runs short of chasing a colossal target of 226.
Umran Malik sent down his full complement of overs in this match, but he was expensive, returning figures of 1/42. At least he had claimed his first international wicket, but things will need to improve if the fast bowler is to be included in India’s T20 World Cup squad.
Can India Claim the 2022 T20 World Cup?
The T20 series with Ireland and the upcoming series against England are all part of India’s preparations for the 2022 World Cup. Rohit Sharma’s men will use these games to test out players and to identify their first choice starting XI.
These are important matches for one of the favourites to win the trophy in a tournament which takes place in Australia across October and November this year. According to the leading online betting sites, as sourced by SBO.net, India, Australia and England are joint favourites to win the World Cup.
It’s going to be tight at the top but there is scope for those markets to change, based on T20 results that come in over the course of the next few months. As and when changes occur, SBO.net’s panel of bookmakers will issue updates and readers can view them on the website.
A comprehensive set of sportsbook reviews will also appear and it’s possible to stake on the Cricket World Cup for those that wish to do so. If a betting operator is mentioned, they will be happy to accept new customers subject to eligibility requirements.
Waiting at the other end of a satisfactory registration form are a set of funding options which can help to get the account moving. It’s also likely that the bookmaker will have a welcome promotion to take advantage of.
When playing regularly, there will be a choice of other sports to consider, plus the possibility of accessing additional promotions and live streaming of top class action.
It’s the site to follow for those who are betting on the T20 World Cup, but would India’s chances be boosted by the inclusion of Umran Malik?
Will Umran Malik be on the Plane to Australia?
Pace itself can be a useful weapon but many observers agree that Umran Malik needs to work on his accuracy. He’s been criticised over his radar in the past with Ravi Shastri among those who have been vocal on the subject.
Malik’s figures in his first two games against Ireland were nothing to get excited about. He will, however, get another chance to impress in the series against England and he will need to prove that he can ally pace to bowling in good areas.
