Umran Malik

Umran Malik grabbed eyeballs with his blistering pace when he made his IPL debut in 2021. Joining Sunrisers Hyderabad as a replacement for T Natarajan, the young pacer consistently clocked speeds in excess of 150 kph and instantly became one of the fastest bowlers in the league. Despite limited opportunities, he showed enough promise to be retained for the following season.

Malik’s breakthrough came in IPL 2022, where he picked up 22 wickets in 14 matches, including a sensational five-wicket haul against Gujarat Titans. His raw pace and wicket-taking ability made him one of the most exciting young fast bowlers in the country and earned him a call-up to the Indian team. However, his performances at the international level were inconsistent, and he gradually fell out of favour.

In the IPL, his journey has been a mix of highs and lows. While 2022 highlighted his immense potential, the following seasons exposed areas that needed improvement - particularly his control, consistency, and ability to handle pressure situations. This led to reduced opportunities, and he eventually lost his regular place in the SRH playing XI before being released.