Umran Malik to stay with Indian squad as a net bowler - Reports

Umran Malik, who impressed all and sundry with his express after being added to the SRH squad as a Covid-19 replacement for T Natarajan, has been asked to stay with the Indian squad in UAE as a net bowler. Malik also recorded the fastest delivery of the season that made him an overnight sensation during the last two weeks of the IPL.

"Yes, he will be staying back with the team as a net bowler. He was impressive in the IPL and we feel it will be a good idea to have the batsmen face him at the nets. It will also be a good exposure for him to bowl to the quality batsmen like Kohli and Rohit," a source told ANI.

The Jammu and Kashmir bowler was a net bowler for SRH before being added to the squad as a replacement for Natarajan. However, he played a massive role in SRH downing RCB in their penultimate league encounter. 

"From the very start, I used to bowl fast. When I played cricket with Cosco ball, I used to bowl fast then also. We used to play one over matches and I used to run in and bowl fast yorkers. In 2018, U-19 trials came and I was bowling, the selectors saw me. I was bowling with jogger shoes, then my friend gave me spike shoes and I then came into the U-19 team. Then I played Under-23 cricket," Malik told teammate Bhuvneshwar Kumar in a video posted on iplt20.com.

"In 2018, I was practicing regularly. After Under-23, I played Vijay Hazare and Ranji Trophy. I thank the SRH franchise for giving me an opportunity. Irfan Pathan came and he told me where I can improve. I was scared at first when I had to bowl to Warner and Williamson in the nets. I prayed to God that I just bowl good balls. I kept on learning and this has helped me," he added.