‘Why won’t they let me play?: Umran Malik ready for comeback, sends message to Gautam Gambhir and Co.

Umran Malik sends selection message to Gautam Gambhir for comeback. (Photo: X)

Umran​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Malik hasn't featured for India since July 2023, and it seems a lot of changes have happened to the Jammu & Kashmir swift bowler during this period. At a time when he was considered one of the most promising young talents of the country, he is now not even in the backup fast bowling options behind Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh. On top of that, despite the record for the fastest delivery by an Indian being held by him in the IPL, injuries have been a recurring trend in his case and have troubled his progress.

In an exclusive interview with The Indian Express, the high-speed pacer talked about how he wants to get back into the Indian team and expressed his views on frequently delivering at speeds of approximately 150 kph.

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This is a message that chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir should get loud and ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌clear.

“When I was playing earlier, there was this much competition. Now also the competition is the same. I don’t think there is any competition. When I am fully fit and take wickets like this, why won’t they let me play? They will let me play if I take wickets. That’s it,” he said.

"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. 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."

Calling bowling an art, he said, "Let me tell you one thing. Those who bowl 150 are not strike bowlers, they are attacking bowlers. They will be hit for 30 (runs) in four (overs) but will also give you wickets. A fast bowler is like that. He should know what he has to do. 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."

"Bowling 150kph is an art, you can’t go directly from 137 to 145. Do training, do whatever you want — this is natural, this is all natural. You need to train yourself accordingly, eat properly, rest properly, keep your body fresh so that you’re ready for the process tomorrow. Speed is my natural aspect, how can I compromise on that? Training, running, cardio –you have to maintain. There is no special diet. Pace is my strength. I have to regain my strength."