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Concerns have been raised by former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra regarding the absence of fast-bowling sensation Umran Malik from recent national and India A squads.
Umran, who had been a key player in India’s plans during the transition period in white-ball cricket, was notably missing from both the national squad and the India A squad set to face England Lions ahead of the 5-match Test series against Ben Stokes’ side.
Expressing his thoughts on his YouTube channel, Chopra questioned the sudden disappearance of the pace bowler, who had been prominently featured in India’s cricket plans not long ago.
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“Until recently, Umran Malik was everywhere. We even took him to the West Indies, and it seemed like he could be in the World Cup team too, but now he is not there in any of the teams. He doesn’t even get selected for India A,” voiced Chopra, expressing his concerns.
Umran’s last appearance in an Indian jersey was during the West Indies tour, where he faced a challenging outing. Critics, including SunRisers Hyderabad bowling coach Muttiah Muralitharan, emphasized the need for the pacer to develop additional skills beyond raw pace for enhanced effectiveness.
Umran’s meteoric rise was evident in the 2022 Indian Premier League, claiming 22 wickets with an impressive strike rate of 13.41. However, the subsequent 2023 season saw limited opportunities, featuring in only 8 matches and securing 5 wickets at an economy of 10.85.
Chopra defended Umran, pointing out the bowler’s minimal chances with the Indian team. “What happened within three months that a guy first gets selected for the Indian team, gets very minimum chances there, and then goes missing? We don’t even know where Umran Malik is. Why isn’t he there? We should know why this is happening,” questioned the former cricketer, emphasizing the need for clarity regarding the promising pacer’s current status and prospects.
–IANS
