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'He will be an X-factor...': Ex-India batter' 'Mark Wood' Acclaim For Umran Malik

image-lk0sllvlUmran Malik [Twitter]

Indian Pacer Umran Malik, with his impressive performance in the IPL, has emerged as a hopeful talent for Team India. Meanwhile, Former Indian opener Sanjay Manjrekar suggests that Malik should be given an opportunity in Test cricket.

Despite his promising talent being recognized with appearances for India in limited-overs formats, where he has been effective as a short-burst bowler, Umran Malik was not selected for the two-match Test series against West Indies, however the speedster will be the part of ODI and T20Is.


Here's What Sanjay Manjrekar said:

"I believe if you have to pick Umran, give him a chance in Test cricket because we saw when Mark Wood played the last Ashes Test, a guy who can bowl 90 miles per hour, his specialty is that the tail-enders don't stay against him for long. So if you have to see Umran Malik, instead of white-ball cricket, if you have a Test series that is not that high-profile, give him a chance there, three-four over spells. So he will be an X-factor in our bowling," 

Manjrekar draws a comparison between Malik and England pacer Mark Wood, highlighting Wood's ability to trouble tail-enders with his pace in the Ashes Test. Manjrekar also added an example:

"I believe if you have to pick Umran, give him a chance in Test cricket because we saw when Mark Wood played the last Ashes Test. When you have a lot of pace, there is a lot of pressure in white-ball cricket, you have to bowl absolutely accurately, if the ball goes even slightly here and there, you can prove expensive and then the captain does not gamble that much. This is how Pakistan used to think earlier, when they had young bowlers who bowled 90 miles an hour, they fast-tracked them straightaway into Test cricket and not much in white-ball cricket."

It's worth noting that Malik's international career has seen him struggle with economy rates above 10 runs per over in T20 matches and maintaining a run-a-ball record in ODI matches. However, he has displayed promise by taking major wickets in significant moments.