He doesn't have a lot of variations: Former opener's big comments on Umran Malik
Umran Malik (Source: Twitter)
India is currently playing New Zealand in a three match ODI series at their home ground. They have included the tear away pacer, Umran Malik for the series. In the first match of the series Malik was included in the playing eleven.
He was expensive in the match conceding 66 runs off his 10 overs, but he also picked up 2 wickets. Malik was brilliant in his first spell where he picked up the wickets of Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell. But in his return spell, he was punished by Tom Latham and Kane Williamson.
Umran Malik's exploits in the later stages of the innings has not impressed former Indian Test opener, Wasim Jaffer. He is of the opinion that Malik is more suited for ODIs than T20 as he does not have a lot of variations. Jaffer said that this lack of variation might lead Malik not tasting much success in the shorter format of the game.
He needs to hit the right line and lengths: Wasim Jaffer
“As the game gets bigger, you got to have a lot more skills and that’s something they will learn. The One Day format suits Umran Malik more than T20s. We have seen in the IPL that he doesn’t have many variations compared to bowling in this format when he needs to hit the right line and lengths and use the short ball well,”- said Jaffer as quoted from ESPNCricinfo.
Jaffer also commented Arshdeep Singh, who made a debut along with Umran Malik will make comeback even after conceding 68 runs from 8.1 overs in the first match.
“Arshdeep will get used to it as he is a quality bowler. He will adapt to things very quickly,” Jaffer Said.
About India's loss in the first match, Jaffer felt that the pitch got better with the progress of the game and as a result the Kiwi batters chased down the target of 306 runs pretty easily.
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