World Cup-winning former fast bowler Santhakumaran Sreesanth has urged young pacers in the country to recognise the importance of commitment and recovery. Backing the injury-prone Umran Malik to make a strong comeback, Sreesanth emphasised the need to focus on match fitness and smart field management to achieve consistent success.
Speaking to IndiaToday.in, the JioStar expert cited quotes from Kapil Dev and Virat Kohli to inspire young fast bowlers struggling with injuries amid a demanding cricket calendar.
“What you do in the off-season is crucial. It’s not just about on-field efforts; what you do off the field is equally significant. I was very fortunate during my time-we had a strong foundation at the MRF Pace Academy, especially when dealing with injuries. We had Ramji Srinivasan Sir as our strength and conditioning coach. Even Sachin Paaji would say the same,” Sreesanth said.
As IPL 2025 approaches, a number of young Indian fast bowlers have been grappling with injuries. Umran Malik, released by SunRisers Hyderabad, was set to play for defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders this season. However, the 25-year-old express pacer was ruled out just days before the tournament due to injury.
Umran burst onto the scene in 2021, delivering thunderbolts exceeding 150kph. Following a successful stint with SunRisers in 2022, he played 10 ODIs and 8 T20Is, but injuries and illness have since hampered his progress. He has not played competitive cricket since IPL 2024, where he featured in just one game for the SunRisers. A hip fracture ruled him out of the 2024-25 domestic season.
