Picture Credit: Twitter
Umran Malik has become a sensation after a perfect IPL 2022. The pacer from Jammu and Kashmir has turned heads with his ability to rush batsmen with raw pace. Every time Malik has a ball in his hand, people are excited to see what he can do with the cherry in his hand. Not just normal people but Umran Malik has left a big impression on legends of the game as well.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has also looked mighty impressed with the young pacer. Such has been the impact of Malik on Gavaskar that the former India opener can’t wait to see the 23-year-old in national colors. Gavaskar has said that he is as much excited to see Malik playing at the international level as he was for Sachin Tendulkar. “The first player I got excited to see was Sachin Tendulkar, the second player is Umran Malik,” said Gavaskar.
Notably, Umran Malik was awarded a place in India’s squad for the 5 T20Is against South Africa for his impressive show at IPL 2022 but the right-arm quick is yet to get his debut cap. Malik was seen warming the bench in the first two T20Is but as it seems, a debut cap for the J&K pacer is around the corner.
Sunil Gavaskar also feels the same and has backed the young gun to get a place in the playing XI for the 3d T20I. Notably, India take on South Africa in the 3rd T20I on Tuesday in Visakhapatnam. As India has lost the first two matches, Rishabh Pant and Rahul Dravid are expected to make a few changes.
India’s T20I squad: Rishabh Pant (Captain)(wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik