'One season I take 22 wickets, next I'm on the bench': Umran Malik on 'disappointments'

Srinagar: Umran Malik burst onto the scene in 2022, his raw pace leaving cricket fans and experts alike in awe. Soon after, he broke into India’s white-ball setup. But just as quickly, he dropped off the radar — no longer in the mix for either his IPL franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad, or the national team.

A dip in form and a string of injuries meant that, for the next two seasons, the 25-year-old speedster was seen more as a liability than an asset. But Malik didn’t let it bog him down. He took the setbacks in stride, focused on pushing himself harder, honed his skills, and maintained his trademark pace — all in the hope that better days were just around the corner.

The hard work has finally paid off, and Malik feels his efforts will help him last the distance this season. His first big test comes against 42-time champions Mumbai, who open their Ranji Trophy campaign against Jammu & Kashmir at the Sher-I-Kashmir Stadium from Wednesday.

Malik bowled for almost an hour and a half in the nets without breaking a sweat. Bystanders — mostly from the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association — said this is the best they’ve seen him in years. But as always in cricket, performance must match the hype.

“I’m feeling good. I’m entering this Ranji season after a strong build-up through the Buchi Babu and local tournaments. I’ve taken good care of my body and trained well. Gradually, I’ve increased my bowling load to be match-ready,” Malik told TOI.

Even though this will be his first competitive match since his lone appearance in the 2024 IPL, the right-arm pacer insists, “There’s no nervousness, even though I’m returning after a year. The focus is on playing good cricket and doing what I do — taking wickets.”

After limited appearances in the 2023 and 2024 IPL seasons with Sunrisers Hyderabad, Malik was handed a fresh lease of life when Kolkata Knight Riders picked him up in the 2025 auction. But a hip injury sustained three to four months before the tournament forced him to pull out.

That setback marked the beginning of a long road to recovery, giving him time for introspection. “Injuries are part of a fast bowler’s life. Last year, I got injured for the first time and missed the entire season. But that break taught me a lot about how to manage my body. That phase is over now, and my body feels much better,” Malik said.

“I’ve done everything a fast bowler needs to do. I’ve trained hard — every day, every morning, every evening. Because of that, my body feels stronger, and I’m looking forward to playing as much cricket as possible,” he added.

During his rehab, Malik trained under former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar in Chennai. Like Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and several others, he has high praise for Nayar. Having first worked with him during his KKR stint, Malik decided to continue that relationship. “Working with him has helped. He keeps players in the right frame of mind. The way he breaks things down helps you focus on what really matters,” Malik said.

Malik now sounds as confident as he did back in 2022, when after just four or five matches he knew he would play for India. “Even Dale Steyn (SRH’s bowling coach in 2022) told me at the end of that season that I would play for India,” he recalled.

Malik admits to disappointment over limited opportunities with Sunrisers after the 2022 season, when he consistently clocked above 150 kmph and took 22 wickets. “There was disappointment. One season I take 22 wickets, and the next I’m sitting on the bench. But I tried to stay motivated,” said Malik, who played just nine IPL matches across the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

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