Indian Umran Malik (photo Hannah Peters/Getty Images) Srinagar: Umran Malik invaded the scene in 2022, his raw pace left cricket fans and astonishment experts. Soon after, he broke into the Indian set of white ball. But just as fast, it fell out of the radar – no longer in the mixture for his franchise IPL, Sunrisers Hyderabad or for the national team. Immerse in form and a number of injuries meant that in the next two seasons, 25 -year -old Speedster was considered to be responsibility rather than an asset. But Malik didn’t let him brake it. He took the failures by step, focused on pushing harder, chasing his skills and keeping his pace of trademarks – all in the hope that better days were just around the corner. Hard work finally paid off and Malik feels that his efforts will help him to endure the distance this season. His first big test comes against 42-fold Mumbai champions who opened the Ranji Trophy campaign against Jammu & Kashmir at the Sher-I-Kashmir stadium on Wednesday. Malik bowed in the nets for almost an hour and a half without breaking sweat. Around the Bohemian – mostly from the Association of Cricket Association Jammu & Kashmir – they said it was the best they saw it in the years. But as always in cricket, the performance must correspond to the hype. “I feel good. I am entering this season after a strong accumulation of Buchi Babu and local tournaments. I took good care of my body and trained well. I gradually increased the bowling burden to be ready,” Malik Toi said. Although it will be his first competitive match from his lonely appearance in IPL 2024, the right shoulder Pacer insists: “There is no nervousness, even if I return after a year. The emphasis is on playing good cricket and doing what I do-gate goals.” After limited performances in the IPL 2023 and 2024 seasons with Sunrisers Hyderabad, Malik was handed over a new life when Kalkata Knight raised him at the 2025 auction. This obstacle meant the beginning of a long journey to healing, which gave him time for introspection. “Injuries are part of the life of a fast bowler. Last year I was injured for the first time and missed the whole season. But the break taught me a lot about how to drive my body. This phase is over now and my body feels much better,” Malik said. “I did everything that a quick pitch must do. During his rehabilitation, Malik trained under the former Indian assistant coach Abhishek Nayar in Chennai. Like Rohit Sharma, Kl Rahul and several others, he has great praise behind Nayara. After working with him for the first time during his STINT KKR, Malik decided to continue this relationship. “Working with him has helped. She keeps the player in the right frame of mind. The way things are decomposed will help you focus on what really matters,” Malik said. Malik now sounds as confident as in 2022, when after just four or five matches he knew he would play for India. “Even Dale Steyn (Bowling coach SRH in 2022 told me at the end of this season that I would play for India,” he recalled. Malik admits the disappointment of limited opportunities with Sunrisers after the season 2022, when he constantly joined over 150 km / ha took 22 goals. “There was a disappointment. One season I take 22 goals and another is sitting on the bench. But I tried to stay motivated,” said Malik, who played only nine IPL matches in the period 2023 and 2024.
