[Exclusive] Wish to play all the games and pick 20-25 wickets in the next IPL season: Umran Malik

Fiery Indian pacer Umran Malik, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, is currently at a crucial juncture in his cricket career. With the Indian Premier League (IPL) being talked about in 2022, Malik has seen both ups and downs in his professional career.

After a breakthrough season in 2022 where he became the fourth highest wicket-taker, the pacer made his white-ball debut for the national team the same year and has featured in 10 ODIs so far, taking 13 wickets. and 8 T20Is with 11 wickets.

After that year, Malik's performances declined. In the following two years he played just nine games, taking just five wickets at an economy rate of 10.57 runs per over. Although his franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad, reached the final of IPL 2024, Malik played one game and bowled just one over in the entire tournament. As the mega auction on November 24th and 25th approaches, Malik has registered with a base price of INR 75 Lakh and hopes to impress everyone once again with his blistering pace.

In an exclusive conversation with CricTracker, the 25-year-old discussed his views on Jammu & Kashmir cricket and the local talent. He also spoke about his injury and his preparations for a comeback. The speedster spoke about his best moments in the IPL and the pressure ahead of the mega auction.

Excerpts

1. How have you seen the craze for cricket in your state of Jammu & Kashmir and how has the structure of cricket in the state evolved over the years?

Things have become better than before, 3-4 playing fields have been laid out and more practice areas have been created. Our team is being joined by more and more young players who are doing well on the local race tracks. Our board was very helpful and young people are also motivated to do good for the state. I hope to see more players from my state play at higher levels.

2. How have former players like Irfan Pathan helped the young players? Jammu & Kashmir and did you have a chance to speak to him?

Yes, I also spent time with myself, he helped the state team a lot. He was the mentor of our national teams and through him many young players received the impetus to play better.

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3. How do you deal with the pressure while bidding in IPL auctions and how have you dealt with it so far and will do so now?

The pressure is always there. Everyone will have some pressure. I just hope that I become part of a good team and can play all the games. Wherever I go, I hope I can play every game and perform well for that team. Also, I want to pick 20-25 wickets in the season and perform well.

4. Are you watching the IPL auction?

I'll take a look at the auction. I'll have to look at it.

5. If given a chance, which IPL captain would you like to play under and get the best performance out of you?

I just want to play cricket. Whichever team I go to, I just want to play all the matches well for the team and myself and make sure I get back to the Indian team soon.

6. You developed outswinger skills while bowling. How do you think these skills will help you in big tournaments?

Before the injury, when I was training well, I bowled outswing deliveries and tried out inswingers. I make sure to add any more variations I need to my bowling. Now my injury is also fine and I have started bowling, hopefully I will be back on the field and playing.

7. How did you consistently reach the 145 km/h mark?

No, it's natural, I train hard for it and try to eat and sleep well. So I keep working hard and it's nice when people tell me that I bowl so fast and pick wickets.

8. What piece of advice has stuck with you from a former player or your family that still helps you?

One person told me to focus on cricket. Because many people stop working hard after a while. I'm not one of them, I need hard work in the game every day. Only if we make regular efforts will we rise, otherwise not. And I will continue to work hard until I play.

8. What is your most memorable moment in IPL?

One was when I picked five wickets against Gujarat Titans and the other was when I had just given two runs while bowling to Andre Russell in the 18th over. I have experienced many more moments while playing for India.

9. Who is the teammate who supports you the most?

Abdul Samad helps me a lot in the national team and the IPL. Arshdeep Singh also helps me in the Indian team. We both talk a lot about bowling and how we can improve and help each other.

10. Fast bowlers have always been prone to injuries and you have gone through the same. So what about your mental state after returning from a lengthy injury that leaves you unable to do anything for a long time?

We fast bowlers have practiced enough in the past so our confidence is always high. If our self-confidence is low, it will work against us. It's about confidence and making sure we get back to the same routine after an injury. So since I'm coming back from injury, I'm practicing the same routine and making sure I get back to games as soon as possible.

11. Do you feel like pacers, when coming back from injury, slow their pace because in the back of their minds they feel the injury could be triggered?

Yes, the idea works, but it depends on your preparation before the games. So now I make sure I bowl a lot so that it doesn't worry me when I play a match.

12. What is your favorite format?

I like all three formats the most and I want to play for India in all three.

13. Who do you like to bowl against?

I love bowling to Shahbaz Ahmed. It's always fun to bowl in front of him because he talks a lot and then I annoy him by getting his wicket.

14. Which is your favorite cricket stadium?

Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is my favorite because I got my five wickets there.

15. A cricket moment you will remember forever?

I think when I got picked in the IPL. I was a net bowler and wanted to return home but the people from the federation told me that I had been selected.

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