IPL 2021: Need to nurture talent like Umran Malik, says Virat Kohli

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Virat Kohli was full of praise for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer Umran Malik, following the Bangalore-based franchise’s defeat against SRH in an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 encounter on Wednesday. Malik bowled the fastest delivery in the ongoing IPL 2021 during the course of the clash. The player hails from Jammu and comes from a very humble background. He bowled a delivery at 153kmph. Malik has now surpassed New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson who had earlier bowled the fastest delivery in the ongoing edition at 152.75 kmph.

“Good to see a guy bowling at 150 clicks”

“This tournament throws up talent every year, good to see a guy bowling at 150 clicks [on Umran Malik]. It is important to understand the progress of individuals from hereon. The pool of fast bowlers being strong is always a good sign for Indian cricket and whenever you see talent like this, you are going to have your eyes on them and make sure you maximise their potential which is already being seen at the IPL level,” said Kohli as quoted by Cricbuzz.

The RCB skipper further shared his opinion on this defeat, urging the batsmen to wrap up chases as soon as possible.

“The intent has to be to try and get it done as soon as possible. We don’t want to stretch these games too deep, but having lost a couple of early wickets, rebuilding was key. Maxi’s [Maxwell] run-out was the game-changing moment in terms of momentum and Maxi was in the zone to get a couple of big overs. With AB [de Villiers] you are never out of the game, but it is about making sure that the guy who’s in flow is on strike in the crucial moments. We had a good first half with the ball but not as effective with the bat chasing that down. Shahbaz [Ahmed] played a crucial knock at that stage, it is a game of small margins, I think Sunrisers held their nerve and bowled out their last few deliveries pretty well to not allow us to get us those big hits we were looking for,” stated Kohli.

The popular cricketer had words of praise for spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who has been a fine performer for the Bangalore-based franchise this season.

“He’s (on Yuzvendra Chahal) bowling pretty well now, looks like he’s worked on his bowling after all the time off and is back to the bowling way we know he can. Him bowling well has always been a good sign for the team. He’s been magnificent with the ball,” concluded Kohli.

“I have always bowled this fast”

Malik stated that he has always been a supremely fast bowler, in an interaction with Bhuvneshwar Kumar following SRH’s triumph.

“I have always bowled this fast. Even when I was playing tennis-ball cricket I used to bowl the fastest. We used to play one-over matches and would bowl yorkers throughout the over. So I was always fast,” stated the pacer.

“I have been a net bowler for a long time so, very thankful to the franchise for giving me this chance. Was very nervous bowling to these players (David Warner, Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey) the first time. I prayed to god to please help me bowl well. Then I just concentrated bowling at a length and try to beat them and started being able to do that regularly,” added Malik.