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"King has to back himself": Umran Malik makes big claim on 150 kph ball for India return

Soumyajit Dutta

Umran Malik [Source: @KkrKaravan/X.com]Umran Malik [Source: @KkrKaravan/X.com]

After a period away from the national team and the IPL as well, fast bowler Umran Malik is determined to make his comeback. Once seen as a bowler who could challenge the record for the fastest ball, his performances became inconsistent after a strong initial IPL season. 

Now, Umran Malik is showing promising form in the domestic Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His recent spells, including a 3-wicket haul, signal a positive turn as he aims to return to the Indian side.

Umran Malik keen on adding variety to his bowling

Confident in his unique ability to bowl at high speeds, Umran is working on adding more variety to his game and spoke of the confidence he gained in recent days.

“It is not that I will feel bad mentally. I know that I will do well now. I will come back to the India team. I have confidence in myself because I am the only one who bowls at 150," Malik said.

Umran further elaborated that he is working on slower balls now as he wants to add more variations to his bowling while improving his line and length.

“But now I am bowling slower (balls) as well, which I am working on, and also the yorker. I am doing that in red-ball formats too, I’m working hard there. The rest is up to the selectors when they let me play. I am doing better now. Playing again for India is my aim now,” Malik told select media after J&K’s match against UP.

Malik backs himslef to make national comeback

Nevertheless, the pacer backed himself for bowling at such high speed while acknowledging it as his greatest strength, as seen in the IPL too.

“A bowler who bowls at 150 knows that he is a king and he has to back himself. Not everyone can bowl 150kph. It takes real guts to bowl at 150kph, and I have been doing this for the last five years,” Malik concluded.

Since his international debut, Umran has taken 13 wickets in 10 ODIs and 11 wickets in eight T20Is. He will be hoping his current domestic form puts him back in contention for national selection or for a comeback in his current IPL team, KKR.