Indian speedsters: Can Umran Malik break Shoaib Akhtar’s record?

India has a long history of producing world-class batsmen who break every record and artistic bowlers who make fastest deliveries

Indian speedster, Umran Malik, on Tuesday, January 3, started the first T20I against Sri Lanka with a bang as he bowled a 155 kmph thunderbolt to dismiss their (Sri Lankan) skipper Dasun Shanaka. The right-arm Indian pacer broke the record of the fastest delivery by a nation’s bowler, which was earlier held by Jasprit Bumrah who during the 2018-19 Border Gavaskar series had bowled a 153.2 kmph delivery at the Adelaide Oval in a match against Australia. 

The 24-year-old right-arm fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir has been termed the new Indian bowling sensation after he picked up 3 wickets during India versus Sri Lanka match giving away 48 runs. The Indian pacer blasted Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Wanindu Hasaranga’s stumps and the three wickets of the match are considered the best international career figures so far.

Fastest deliveries for India… Umran malik 🔥🔥 Keep going young man @BCCI @IrfanPathan 🙌 pic.twitter.com/0BkeQU2zIE

— SACHIN TENDULKAR FC ◆TEAM_SACHIN◆ (@Sachin_rt_200) January 5, 2023

Malik took two wickets and finished the match with an impressive figure of 2/27 in 4 overs in the fight against the Islanders. The young Indian pacer has been facing questions by many that if he can break the record of the Pakistani’s Shoaib Akhtar’s 161 kmph delivery, which the latter bowled against England during the 2003 World Cup.

𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙋𝙖𝙘𝙚! ⚡️⚡️

That moment when @umran_malik_01 clocked 1️⃣5️⃣5️⃣ KPH – the fastest delivery bowled by a #TeamIndia pacer ☄️

Are we in for yet another fiery fast bowling spell today in the second #INDvSL T20I 🤔 pic.twitter.com/WH9bY1KfEp

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 5, 2023

Historic ball in Indian cricket – 155 kmph by Umran Malik. pic.twitter.com/CRk0KBtC94

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 5, 2023

While responding to that question, Umran Malik said that as of now, his focus is to only perform well for his country. 

“I’m only thinking about performing well for the country right now. If I do well, and if I’m lucky, I’ll break that. But I don’t think about it at all,” said the young Indian pacer Umran Malik in an interview with News24 ahead of the first T20I.

THE ‘RAWALPINDI EXPRESS’ RESPONDS TO JAMMU AND KASHMIR EXPRESS

Surprisingly, reacting to his (Umran) comment, the Rawalpindi Express has remarked, stating he’d be happy if Malik breaks his record but also hoped that the Indian pacer, doesn’t break his bones in the process. 

Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar who bowled like the wind is considered the fastest bowler in the history of cricket. His delivery of 161.3 kmph in the 2003 World Cup against England is the fastest delivery of all time. Among active bowlers, Mitchell Starc of Australia is the fastest bowler in world cricket.

Shoaib Akhtar was given the title of the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ for his extraordinary speed and bowling style and as the only bowler who made a habit of scaring the living daylights out of batsmen. 

Umran, during an IPL game against Delhi Capitals (DC) last year, bowled a 157 kmph rocket delivery.

Cricket fans went berserk after witnessing to hail his splendid performance and took to social media saying the speed is like a bullet train speed. 

The Indian pacer from Jammu and Kashmir broke the internet with a 157 kph delivery last year in the 2022 edition against Gujarat Titans, which remains the fastest ball by an Indian in the history of the Indian Premier League.

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OTHER SPEEDSTERS OF TEAM INDIA 

Team India is known to be a powerhouse when it comes to producing brilliant batters and highly competent spinners and from the look of it, India will keep producing the best talent in the cricket world. 

Earlier, Veteran Javagal Srinath (Nicknamed Mysore Express) was one of a kind.  

Also, Irfan Pathan was another sensation and it was an absolute treat to watch in his early years in international cricket.

One of the fastest bowlers produced by India Mohammed Shami was a blessing in red-ball cricket as the seamer made a record after clocking 153.3 kph in the third Test match of the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at MCG. Shami was India’s highest-wicket taker snapping up 15 scalps at 35.80 in the series.

The yorker-specialist Jasprit Bumrah is a gem of a pacer who notched 153.26 kph in the first Test of the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy and claimed an astonishing 21 wickets in the series. 

Other honourable mentions – Navdeep Saini, Ishant Sharma, and Umesh Yadav also rose to fame with their bowling delivery.

Navdeep Saini bowled a 152.85 kph against Mumbai Indians in 2019 while playing for RCB in the IPL

Ishant Sharma bowled a 152.6 kph delivery and stunned the Aussies in the 2008 Commonwealth Bank Series. 

Notably, Umesh Yadav against Sri Lanka in the 2012 edition of the series clocked 152.5 kph. 

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