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Former chairman of selectors and ex-Team India captain Dilip Vengsarkar believes that Jammu-based express fast bowler Umran Malik is ready to make a name for himself in international cricket. Umran Malik who earned rave reviews for consistently hitting the 150 kph mark in the 15th edition of the Indian Premier League, earned his maiden national call-up for the ongoing T20I series against South Africa. But Umran Malik was yet to be picked in the playing XI after missing out in Delhi and again in Cuttack on Sunday.
The Indian team opted for Avesh Khan instead. Khan would now get his second opportunity in as many matches. He will be the third pacer in the Rishabh Pant-led side after veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel. Vice-captain Hardik Pandya is the other fast bowling option in the team.
Despite having all these four men, India had lost miserably to the Proteas in the first T20I in Delhi, failing to defend an imposing total of 211/4 and Dilip Vengsarkar now wants Umran Malik to replace one of them in the XI.
Dilip Vengsarkar is in awe of Umran Malik not just because of his pace but because of his accuracy as well, which he thinks would keep him in good stead for a long time.
Vengsarkar was also clear that Umran Malik was a rare talent. He declared he had not seen someone like him in at least the last ten years and that's why the Indian team management needed to give him his debut cap as early as possible.
“Everybody has a different outlook on the game. But I feel he deserves to play after showing that kind of speed and accuracy in the IPL. Also, when you are playing (international cricket) at home, that’s the right time to test somebody like him,” Dilip Vengsarkar told Khaleej Times.
“He is one of the most exciting prospects I have seen in the last 10 years. I hope he does well because he looks very fit, and he has that aggression of a fast bowler. He has got pace and accuracy. I think he should be able to play for India for a long time,” Vengsarkar added.
Dilip Vengsarkar, however, isn't the first former India cricketer who wants to see Umran Malik playing for the national team.
Earlier former India all-rounder and ex-head coach Ravi Shastri had made a similar demand.
Shastri, in fact, sought a central contract for the cricketer from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Article Continues Below“Central contract straightaway for him (Umran Malik). Don’t let him float around, keep him in the mix with the main players and let him learn by being around the Shamis and Bumrahs and see the way they train, the way they manage their workload but don't let him go astray,” Shastri told ESPNCricinfo.
Many former cricketers have hailed Umran Malik as the next big thing in Indian cricket, especially in the bowling department after the emergence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.
Ravi Shastri who has seen India's current pace battery from close quarters, after having coached the national side for several years before exiting his role in November last year, saw Umran Malik making subtle adjustments during the IPL.
He reckons that Umran Malik is a keen learner, otherwise, he wouldn't have been successful in rectifying his line and length in the IPL.
According to Ravi Shastri, Umran Malik would learn a great deal from the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, etc. These men have been around for years and have honed their art while gaining valuable experience by playing on different types of pitches and opposition.
“I think he'll get better and better. Look at the lines he is bowling now. You don't want him to cut down on pace. The last thing you'd want to tell him is while looking for control you cut down on pace. What you want him to do is get his lines right. If he can attack the stumps consistently varying his length, he will trouble anyone. And he can really rattle a new guy coming in because he’s got the pace, he can keep the batter on his toes but it’s that line if he can hit the right areas without reducing his pace, it’ll make a huge difference,” Shastri added.
Talking about India's home T20I series against South Africa, coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rishabh Pant may have not included Umran Malik in their playing XI in the first game, but he should remain positive about his prospects.
If he continues to impress the leadership group of the team, namely the captain, vice-captain, coach, and other senior players, there's bound to be a discussion on his inclusion in the XI.
Till then he should keep waiting for his turn and if the likes of Shastri and Vengsarkar are to be believed, his chance will come very soon.
