During the last two IPL cycles, Umran Malik has stood out as a phenomenal talent, proving to be among the fastest bowlers in Indian history. He became a breakout star in the 2022 IPL thanks to his immense pace, frequently exceeding 150 kmph throughout his matches. He held the title for the fastest ball of the tournament at 157 kmph until Lockie Ferguson edged him out with 157.3 kmph during the final. Following this success, Umran was selected for the Indian national team for the first time to face South Africa in a T20 series starting June 9.
Pace sensation Umar Malik emerged as the fastest bowler India has ever produced in the last two seasons of IPL. Umran Malik’s sheer pace helped him to be the standout player in IPL 2022. The 22-year-old pacer was crossing 150kmph regularly in all the matches and held the record for the fastest delivery in the tournament, a 157kph scorcher until Lockie Ferguson (157.3kph) surpassed him in the final. Umran got his maiden call up for Team India for the T20 series against South Africa at home starting from June 9.
Given that Umran regularly bowls at speeds around 150 kmph, there is a lot of speculation among fans about whether he can surpass Shoaib Akhtar's world record of 161 kmph. When asked about this, Umran admitted that he isn't preoccupied with records at the moment. His current focus is simply on executing his role effectively, hitting the correct spots on the pitch, and helping India win all five games against the Proteas.
Umran aims to keep his speeds above 150 kmph while prioritizing his physical conditioning and overall strength. He emphasized that his sole concentration is on helping India secure a victory in the upcoming five-match T20I series against South Africa. He believes that by staying focused and attacking the stumps with accurate lines, he can become a truly lethal weapon against the opposing side.
Umran attributes much of his bowling speed to the influence of his teammate, Abdul Samad. Both hailing from Jammu & Kashmir, the two have trained together since they were children, and Umran expressed deep gratitude for the motivation and support Samad has provided him.