Former India player Wasim Jaffer said that Umran Malik has improved a lot in T20I cricket since IPL 2022. While Jaffer said that he was expensive in the three-match series against Sri Lanka, he also picked up important wickets. Malik, who made his international debut in 2022, finished as the highest wicket-taker in the T20I series against Sri Lanka, which India also won 2–1. He claimed seven wickets in three matches at 15.14, along with his best figures of 4-0-48-3.
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s Timeout, Jaffer said: “I thought he has improved a lot. Since I saw him in the IPL, I thought he will always be expensive in this format because he doesn’t have a lot of variation or slower balls.” When you bowl at 145-150 clicks, sometimes you have to beat the batsmen with lack of pace.
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He further added, “Whatever comes with the pace, he goes out of the ground, because the batsmen are smart enough to use that pace. But his line and length have improved a lot. He has wickets.” There is also the ability to pick up. He has been expensive in games, but he has taken important wickets. So, since I have seen him in IPL, he has improved a lot.”
Umran Malik also dismissed Dasun Shanaka and Mahesh Theekshana in the third and final T20I at Rajkot. However, he conceded ten runs in an over and also with an economy rate of 9.63 in the series. Jaffer also shared how both Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal improved after the first game.
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“Yuzvendra Chahal has that instinct. You will see that he has a holiday every day. But he comes back stronger and he did the same in this series. He took some important wickets in this game as well. I would say Akshar is looking for one. He has bowled in the powerplay before this series, but his batting has been really good. On the bowling front, he bowled at a very good pace. Sometimes I think he takes it in, but he uses the pace well, hits the pitch hard, and gets some purchase from it. Since the first game, both the spinners have improved a lot,” concluded Wasim Jaffer.
