Kolkata: Express pacer Umran Malik has started dreaming of wearing India colours again after returning from an injury lay-off, and for that he banks on his inherent ability to breach 150 kmph barrier and the new add-ons like slower balls and a sharper yorker.
Malik has been away from the Indian team since July 2023 for multiple reasons after taking 24 wickets across 10 ODIs and 8 T20Is, but the setbacks have not affected his spirit.
“Let me tell you one thing. Those who bowl 150 are not strike bowlers, they are attacking bowlers. They will be hit for 30 (runs) in four (overs) but will also give you wickets. A fast bowler is like that. He should know what he has to do,” Umran told select media after J&K’s
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Uttar Pradesh here on Friday.
“A bowler who bowls at 150 knows that he is a king and he has to back himself. Not everyone can bowl 150kph. It takes real guts to bowl at 150kph and I have been doing this for the last five years,” he added.
He stressed that bowling at that pace is not something one can achieve with hard work.
“Bowling 150kph is an art, you can’t go directly from 137 to 145. Do training, do whatever you want — this is natural, this is all natural. You need to train yourself accordingly, eat properly, rest properly, keep your body fresh so that you’re ready for the process tomorrow. Speed is my natural aspect, how can I compromise on that? Training, running, cardio –you have to maintain. There is no special diet. Pace is my strength. I have to regain my strength.”
‘I am the only one who bowls 150’
Umran, who clocked 156.7kph in IPL 2024, but has since battled multiple injuries and illness, said he never doubted his ability or his future.
“It is not that I will feel bad mentally. I know that I will do well now. I will come back to the India team. I have confidence in myself because I am the only one who bowls at 150.
“But now I am bowling slower (balls) as well, which I am working on, and also the yorker. I am doing that in red-ball formats too, I’m working hard there.
“The rest is up to the selectors when they let me play. I am doing better now. Playing again for India is my aim now,” he said.
Getting a spot in the rich-in-talent Indian white ball bowling unit was not easy, but Umran remained unfazed.
“When I was playing earlier, there was this much competition. Now also the competition is the same. I don’t think there is any competition. When I am fully fit and take wickets like this, why won’t they let me play? They will let me play if I take wickets. That’s it.”
