Pacer Umran Malik managed to take hold his nerve while bowling the final over in a thrilling encounter against Ireland in the second T20I on Wednesday, June 28 in Dublin. He successfully defended 16 runs off the over to take India to a four runs victory. The Hardik Pandya-led team clean swept the two-match T20I series. Umran has revealed the conversation between him and the skipper during the final over.
The youngster started the over with a dot ball. However, he bowled a no-ball on the second delivery, and then was hit for two consecutive fours by Mark Adair. Thereafter, Umran made a brilliant comeback in the next three deliveries. He gave away just three runs to take India home in the match.
In a video released by the BCCI, Umran Malik spoke about what the skipper Hardik Pandya told him in the final over. He stated,
“It felt good when I successfully defended 17 runs in the last over. My plan was to bowl the first ball a little wider. Then Hardik Bhai (Hardik Pandya) told me to bowl my normal balls. Unfortunately, it was called a no-ball. When eight runs were needed off three balls, Hardik Bhai told me that even if there are two dot balls, we will win. I gave three singles and won the game.”
I almost cried at that time: Umran Malik on receiving his debut cap in the first T20I
Pacer Umran Malik was handed his India cap before the start of the first T20I on Sunday, by veteran cricketer Bhuvneswar Kumar, to mark the youngster’s debut for his country. Umran expressed that it was his dream to play for India, and recalled that he almost cried while receiving the cap.
“It was my dream to play for India. The dream was fulfilled when Bhuvi Bhai (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) gave me the Indian cap. I almost cried at that time,” said Umran Malik.
In the first T20I, Umran Malik bowled just one over conceding 14 runs. He took his maiden T20I wicket in the second match. The pacer dismissed wicket-keeper batter, Lorcan Tucker, in the fourteenth over of the innings. Umran Malik finished the second T20I match with bowling figures of 1/42 in his four overs.
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