I am fully focused on the preparation of the Duleep trophy – Umran Malik

India’s gun fast bowler Umran Malik is fully focused on preparing for the upcoming Duleep trophy after recovering from dengue. Earlier, Malik was out of action due to a hamstring injury and he is all set to return to the domestic circuit.

Meanwhile, Malik plays for Jammu and Kashmir in the domestic circuit but picked four wickets from five matches at an average of 38.50 in the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 season.

Malik is known to bowl consistently above 145 kmph but hasn’t been in the best of forms. The gun pacer played a solitary match for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024 but could not take a single wicket.

The fast bowler had a breakthrough season in IPL 2022, when he picked up 22 wickets in 14 matches for the Orange Army but has veered off the track since then. Based on his impressive show, he was also picked in the national team.

Despite a disappointing run in the previous season, Malik is optimistic about turning the tables in the upcoming domestic season.

“I am feeling better and now I am fully focused on the preparation of the Duleep trophy at NCA. I hope, I will be doing good in this season for my team,” Malik told ANI.

Malik will play under the captaincy of Ruturaj Gaikwad for Team C in the forthcoming Duleep trophy. Malik has all the talent under his arsenal and he would look to come up with consistent performances. 

The domestic tournament will begin on September 5.

Duleep Trophy Team C squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, Abishek Porel, Suryakumar Yadav, B Indrajith, Hrithik Shokeen, Manav Suthar, Umran Malik, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Anshul Khamboj, Himanshu Chauhan, Mayank Markande, Aryan Juyal, Sandeep Warrier.