Hardik Pandya confirms Umran Malik will be backed in the white-ball setup

Umran Malik celebrating a dismissal [Source: AP]

Indian captain Hardik Pandya has said that express paceman Umran Malik will be getting enough opportunities from the Indian management. 

Malik made his international debut in June 2022 after a breakthrough IPL season, and has played seven ODIs and two T20Is since then. 

While the 23-year-old is yet to make a mark at the highest stage, he is tipped by many to become one of the stars of the future due to his sheer pace.

Hardik praises Umran ahead of Sri Lanka T20Is

The Indian team, under Hardik Pandya, is set to take on Sri Lanka in three T20Is and three ODIs this month. 

The matches serve as a testing yard for both sides ahead of the all-important ICC World Cup 2023 later this year.

Ahead of the T20I series, Pandya hinted about Malik’s inclusion in the playing XI across all matches in order to give him confidence in a World Cup year. 

The star all-rounder also praised the speedster’s express pace, and described him as an “exciting prospect” for Team India. He said:

"Obviously, he (Umran) has pace. Everyone knows how exciting a prospect he is. We will give him enough opportunities. We will give him enough backing. We will give him enough support from our side that he can flourish,

"What we have noticed and what we have told the boys is that, just go out there and express, which they will do. It's up to us how we back them. What we have said is that we are going to back you to the core. All the players have that support my side. I'm going to back them to the core."

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