Umran Malik’s World Cup prospects, as revealed by Ravi Shastri, and how the Indian pacer may be selected for the team

Since his debut in international cricket, the speed demon Umran Malik has caused a stir. Undoubtedly, Umran’s pace is what makes him most noticeable, but if one were to go beyond that, there are other parts of his bowling that also clearly make him a menace to the opposition. Umran can break up partnerships and, despite the possibility of leaking runs (something every bowler’s faces), he often succeeds in taking wickets. Umran, a 25-year-old tearaway quick, has taken 15 wickets in the previous 8 games, including two three-wicket hauls, and has only gone wicketless once. He has more bowled dismissals than any other player, which indicates that he is difficult to play.

In the Indian squad, there is intense rivalry for every position, but especially in the fast-bowling division. The lineup is strong with a World Cup on the horizon. Jasprit Bumrah will return, and his longtime sidekick Mohammed Shami will be there with the new ball. With their strong track records, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh will also be knocking on the door, while Hardik Pandya’s return to full-tilt bowling provides India with another option.

It would be intriguing to see how the team management would feel about incorporating Umran in such a circumstance. Ravi Shastri, a former India coach, sees no reason why the nation’s pacer can’t get to the final 15. Umran is better suited to ODIs than T20s, according to Shastri, who supervised a great era in Indian cricket. Given the number of injuries that have recently surfaced, Umran will always have a chance to make the World Cup team.

“In 50-over cricket as opposed to T20s, I believe he plays more opportunities. Additionally, given how often cricket is played, he will always be a possibility since injuries might occur at any moment. The announcement of your World Cup team must be done by a certain date. The key will be the athletes’ physical condition. This IPL would be vital to observe how they (bowlers) handle the burden because of this “In the third One-Day International against India and New Zealand, Umran had stats of 2/9, including a 150 kph rocket to knock Michael Bracewell, Shastri noted while providing commentary.

After the four-test Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Umran, who was a net bowler for the Indian squad during the T20 World Cup last year, is set to play in the Australia One-Day Internationals before returning to his responsibilities for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League in 2023. The IPL is where Umran’s big test will start since he is anticipated to participate in at least all 14 games. How well his body holds up after the IPL will have a significant impact on his World Cup prospects.

When describing the effects of a returning Bumrah, Shastri made the equation sound more difficult. The senior pacer would be Rohit Sharma’s first pick whenever he returns. If India’s record at home wasn’t already daunting for the visiting teams, add the middle overs from Hardik and other intriguing possibilities, and they seem to be a tough side to defeat.

“Since Bumrah is amazing, you would want him back. He is famous. His return to the team completely healthy will significantly improve the Indian squad. And Hardik is a crucial element. When he bowls for India, this team is a different one. India has a stellar domestic track record. The fact that the boys are healthy—Bumrah—can greatly alter the situation. Arshdeep offers variation as well, while Kuldeep and Chahal also bowl effectively. Washington Sundar always poses a danger, thus they make a good group “Shastri noted.