Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer Umran Malik has expressed that he has learned a lot from the legendary pace bowler Dale Steyn in this Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season. Umran has been a key performer for the franchise in this tournament.
In thirteen matches, Umran has twenty-one wickets at an average of 20 this season. His tally includes a four-wicket and a five-wicket haul. On Tuesday, the 22-year-old took three wickets for 23 runs against the Mumbai Indians. He was taken for runs by the Mumbai Indians batters in the first over, however, he made a brilliant comeback to lead Sunrisers to a thrilling victory.
Speaking post-match with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umran spoke about the guidance he received from Dale Steyn. The young pacer added that he has picked up his fist-pumping celebration after watching his mentor do it whenever Umran would rattle the wickets in the nets. Umran Malik said:
“Dale sir stands as the umpire in the nets when I am bowling. When I take a wicket, he does this (celebration). One day I also did that and it has become a habit since.”
“I have learned a lot from him (Steyn). If we are bowling for three hours in the nets, he’ll keep standing with us throughout the three hours,” he added.
https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1526774582098726912?s=20&t=SGkhXmfVcY9jD02rWhawkQ
No one would feel like playing against me in tennis-ball cricket – Umran Malik
During the conversation, Bhuvneshwar Kumar called Umran Malik the ‘pace sensation. He asked the youngster whether his speed is a result of strength training or it comes naturally to him. Replying to his question, Umran expressed:
“I bowl fast (naturally). So the pace keeps getting generated by itself. I put in a lot of effort with my body. Even in tennis-ball cricket, I would bowl a lot of fast yorkers. So no one would feel like playing against me. That has helped me a lot. The tennis ball is much lighter, so if you are bowling fast with it, it helps you when you bowl with the leather ball.”
The Sunrisers Hyderabad have kept their playoff hopes alive by defeating the Mumbai Indians by three runs on Tuesday at the Wankhede Stadium.
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