We know there is an x-factor in Umran Malik: Irfan Pathan

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Umran Malik celebrates dismissing Gujarat Titans’ Shubman Gill on Wednesday. Pic/BCCI; IPL

A placard at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday read, ‘I have come to watch Umran Malik.' Such anticipation reserved for an Indian fast bowler is rare. But why not? He is, after all, the fastest bowler in India. The Jammu-based Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer, 22, has already been a box office hit this IPL. And after his sensational five-wicket haul albeit in a losing cause, Umran's stocks have simply skyrocketed. He received a standing ovation from the Wankhede crowd with chants of "Umran Umran."

Out of the five batsmen Umran sent back, four were clean bowled. Introduced in the attack for the eighth over, Umran first dismissed Shubman Gill (22) who was trying to give himself room to play a shot. He then bounced out GT captain Hardik Pandya. A 153kmph thunderbolt sent back Wriddhiman Saha (68) while David Miller (17) and Abhinav Manohar (0) were beaten by raw pace too. Despite Gujarat Titans winning a thriller on the last ball over Sunrisers Hyderabad, Umran deservedly bagged the man-of-the-match award for his 5-25.

Irfan Pathan

Former India left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan, who groomed Umran while he coached J&K, felt the change in tactics from SRH captain Kane Williamson has helped Umran. "At the start, he was given overs in the Powerplay, but later he was made to bowl the middle overs and that has worked well for SRH and even Umran. His rhythm is good, he is jumping in straight which really helps him bowl good lines. His yorkers are accurate and at that pace, it's very, very exciting. He is getting set batsman out. That's the key to play at the highest level and he is going in the right direction," Irfan told mid-day on Thursday.

Umran's latest fifer has certainly intensified the talk of fast-tracking the Jammu Express into the Indian team. Irfan, however, wants to tread with caution: "Obviously, he is an exciting prospect. All the overseas cricketers are getting excited, so we know there is an x-factor in this guy. You should look after him like a shining diamond. When he does well, obviously keep pushing him. But when he does not, be patient with him because you don't get guys like him on a regular basis," said Irfan, who was introduced to Umran by J&K batsman Abdul Samad.

The only factor that may be brought up as Umran gets closer to the India cap is his lack of experience at the domestic cricket level. "He has very limited first-class playing experience [three first-class games], but it is not that people with less first-class experience haven't succeeded at the top level," Pathan signed off.