The Biz Reporter
Srinagar, July 18: Former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey has shed light on the reasons behind the decline in form of fast bowler Umran Malik. Known for his blistering pace, Malik burst onto the scene with speeds consistently above 145 kmph, but has struggled to maintain his impact in recent times.
Mhambrey, speaking to The Indian Express, emphasized the importance of control alongside raw pace. “Someone having express pace is a rare commodity and you see potential in him,” Mhambrey said. “But how does he do that?”
The coach pointed out that Malik’s main challenge has been his inconsistent line and length, particularly in T20 cricket. “In T20s, if you are not having control, you will struggle. Once you do that, you will lose the faith of the captain,” Mhambrey explained.
Malik’s journey in professional cricket has been a rollercoaster ride. After a breakthrough IPL season in 2022, where he claimed 22 wickets in 14 games, the Jammu and Kashmir pacer earned caps for India in both ODI and T20I formats. However, he failed to replicate his domestic success at the international level, especially in T20Is.
Despite recording top speeds of 157 kmph in the IPL and 156 kmph in international cricket, Malik’s lack of control often resulted in leaking runs. This inconsistency has affected his performances in subsequent IPL seasons as well.
Mhambrey believes that the solution lies in more red-ball cricket. “That is why we are pushing him to play Ranji Trophy because when he goes through a season, even under pressure, he will be able to execute his skillset,” he said.
As Malik looks to regain his form and fulfill his potential, it’s clear that harnessing his exceptional pace with improved control will be key to his future success in all formats of the game.
