Indian cricket has been lucky to witness a resurgence in actual fast bowling talent, with two names standing out in recent times: Mayank Yadav and Umran Malik. While Mayank Yadav has been on everyone’s lips after his international debut, Malik has been plagued by a series of injuries. On one side, Mayank has been capturing hearts of fans with his raw pace, Malik’s progress has been hindered.
Mayank Yadav: The Rising Star
Mayank Yadav’s journey to the Indian team has been nothing short of ‘quick’ remarkable. His ability to consistently clock speeds well over 150 kph has made him a sensation in the cricketing world. His IPL 2024 performances with LSG, particularly his Player of the Match awards in his first two games, made everyone’s jaw-drop. Even after a brief injury setback, the 21-year-old has been fast-tracked to the national team. His debut T20I against Bangladesh was eye-catching as well. While he didn’t breach the 150-kmph mark, he displayed a great variety. He bowled consistently at right areas, coupled with varying his pace. In fact, his fastest delivery was clocked at 149.9, his slowest was as slow as 106. This just creates a menace for batters.
Umran Malik: Struggling with injuries, out from Ranji Trophy matches
In contrast to Mayank’s ascent, Umran Malik has faced significant challenges due to recurring injuries. Despite bursting onto the scene with his exceptional pace, Malik has struggled to maintain consistency at the highest level. While he is also an international player, injuries have forced him to miss crucial matches and tournaments. In fact, he was fallen out of favour in SRH, for whom he played just one game in the entire IPL 2024. After eight T20Is, Umran’s career stands at 11 wickets at 22.09 and an economy of 10.48. On one hand, his economy is the worst among Indian bowlers who have taken 10 wickets.
Malik’s recent hip injury has further hampered his progress. The injury has ruled him out of the initial matches of the Ranji Trophy, depriving him of valuable match practice. While Malik’s talent is undeniable, his persistent injuries have plagued.
