Umran Malik is one of the most up and coming pacers from India. The 22-year-old has taken 15 wickets in 11 games in IPL 2022, 25/5 being his best. The only point of concern for the Sunrisers Hyderabad speedster is his economy rate – 9.10 rpo. 

Malik’s mentor who is the bowling coach at SRH, Dale Steyn, has some advice for the youngster. The South African legend wants Umran Malik to add variations to his arsenal, something that will help him bowl economically. 

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“He is an all-out fast bowler. Some of the stats—above 90 per cent of his deliveries are around 142 to 145kmph—tell you he is looking for pace all the time. This makes batters think differently in the way they approach him and where they score off him. That is the reason he has picked up wickets. The message to him is to keep things simple. [Just] stay straight, look to attack the stumps, use the bouncer, be smart when you want to change pace, and bowl to your field,” Dale Steyn said in an interview to The Week.

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Umran Malik has bowled four of the five fastest deliveries this season. His 157 kmph bullet to Delhi Capitals’ Rovman Powell was the second quickest ball in IPL history. 

“How India uses him is up to them, but he is certainly capable of playing international cricket. One guy bowling 150kmph consistently; I think every international team will want him. How and where you use him is critical,” Steyn added. 

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Dale Steyn said that Malik will have to avoid injury. 

“[No need to] try anything too different, stick to what you know and what works for you. The moment you start introducing different things to your body, maybe in the gym or in the bowling action, that is when injuries sneak in. For him, it is about managing what he does,” Steyn said.