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After VHT 2025-26 snub, KKR seamer Umran Malik ignored by J&K for Ranji Trophy phase 2

Aakash Saini

KKR pacer Umran Malik dropped before IPL 2026 [Source: @KKR_Xtra/x]KKR pacer Umran Malik dropped before IPL 2026 [Source: @KKR_Xtra/x]

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has dropped fast bowler Umran Malik from their squad for the upcoming second phase of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season. The speedster was also excluded from the J&K line-up in the entire 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Umran Malik, who recently made his return to competitive cricket after a long injury layoff, played just one Ranji Trophy match for J&K earlier this season and turned up for them in a handful of Syed Mushtaq Ali fixtures.

Fresh blow in Umran Malik’s career as speedster dropped again

Umran Malik has been dropped by the J&K cricket association from their squad for the upcoming phase 2 of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season. The cricket association recently named a 15-player squad for the J&K team, as they prep themselves up for red-ball resumption after the 50-overs Vijay Hazare Trophy tournament.

Here is a look at the entire J&K squad:

Shubam Khajuria, Dikshant Kundal, Yawar Hassan, Paras Dogra, Abdul Samad, Shubam Pundir, Kanhaiya Wadhwan, Kawalpreet Singh, Abid Mushtaq, Vanshaj Sharma, Sahil Lotra, Aqib Nabi, Yudhvir Singh, Umar Nazir and Sunil Kumar.

Nonetheless, Umran Malik’s latest exclusion, coupled with his Vijay Hazare snub by the J&K cricket association, marks a fresh blow in his competitive career.

The injury-marred paceman went out of action after playing just one IPL 2024 match a couple of years ago as he worked towards his rehabilitation. The speedster made his return to competitive cricket back in October last year by playing a Ranji Trophy 2025-26 match for J&K against Rajasthan in Srinagar. Unfortunately for Umran Malik, he remained wicketless in the match, and picked up just six wickets in five innings of the subsequent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 season.

KKR sweat over Umran Malik’s form and fitness

Umran Malik was acquired by the KKR franchise for the IPL 2025 season last year. Despite not getting a single game due to injury, the speedster was retained by KKR later that year for the upcoming IPL 2026 season.

However, with J&K gradually losing faith in Umran Malik and lingering questions surrounding his form and fitness, KKR will be increasingly anxious about the pacer’s readiness heading into the IPL 2026 season in a couple of months’ time.