Srinagar, March 30: Former India cricketer and coach Ravi Shastri has lavished huge praise on Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Umran Malik.
Umran Malik performed brilliantly for Sunrisers in the IPL 2022 match against Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday and Shastri was quick to praise the J&K pacer.
Speaking in the mid-innings show on host broadcaster Star Sports, Shastri said that Umran has all the makings of an India player but he needs to be handled properly.
“I think this guy has got talent. He has genuine pace and if he hits the right areas he is going to trouble a lot of batsmen. It is about handling him properly. It’s the messages that you give him, it’s the way you communicate with him that is going to be very very important,” Shastri said.
“There is no doubt in his potential. This guy is an India player. When he is ready, only time will tell, but that communication part is extremely important. He should be handled with care and kept in the mix,” Shastri said.
About how Umran should be handled, Ravi Shastri said, ” He should be kept in the mix of the Indian cricket team, the A team. The selectors will have to watch him closely and keep him in the mix as much as they can”.
“If this COVID thing persists and you need net bowlers or an extended party, have him there,” Shastri added.
Umran Malik alongwith teammate Abdul Samaf was retained by the Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of the IPL mega auction.