Ravi Shastri reckons that emerging speedster Umran Malik should not be included in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup, which will be played in October-November later this year in Australia.
Giving clarification, Ravi Shastri said that “it is too early to give Umran a big breakthrough in his career” and said that “the youngster needs to be groomed in order to be in the scheme of things.”
The Jammu & Kashmir pacer, who impressed everyone by his lightning speed with the ball in IPL 2022, was rewarded with a national call-up for the ongoing T20I series against South Africa.
However, he was not included in the playing XI for the opening game in Delhi on Thursday (June 9), where the Men in Blue lost the match by seven wickets.
Groom Umran Malik, take him with your team: Ravi Shastri
Former India coach Ravi Shastri quoted:
“No, not T20 as yet. Groom him. Take him with your team. If anything, let him start playing white-ball cricket, that is 50-over cricket, maybe even red-ball cricket. Groom him there with the red ball team and then see how it goes,” said Ravi Shastri while speaking to ESPNcricinfo.
Umran Malik, who was one of the retentions of Sunrisers Hyderabad for IPL 2022, clocked well in excess of 150 Kmph at regular intervals and went on to finish with 22 wickets from 14 matches.
More importantly, he also went on to register three and four-wicket hauls as well as a fifer in the latter half of the tournament. He gave the credit for his performances to SRH’s bowling coach Dale Steyn.
Meanwhile, India faced a bitter defeat in the first game. Defending a huge total of 211 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Indian bowlers succeeded in taking the wickets of South African top-order batters but were unable to deal with the solid middle-order duo of David Miller (64*) and Rassie van der Dussen (75*).
The loss thus ended India’s streak of 12 straight T20I victories starting last November. Meanwhile, it now remains to be seen whether Umran will be handed his maiden India cap in the second T20I at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on June 12.
![Shivam Dube Credits MS Dhoni For His ‘Man Of The Match’ Outing vs Afghanistan nv]cb](https://www.cricshadow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GDlAWQNWoAA8VvV-360x180.jpeg)
