Former India opener Aakash Chopra has expressed his concerns regarding the utilization of fast bowler Umran Malik in the first ODI between India and the West Indies. Malik was included in the playing XI for the series opener but was given only three overs to bowl. Despite a decent performance, where he conceded only 17 runs, Malik was not given further opportunities by captain Rohit Sharma.
Chopra questioned this decision, suggesting that there was a missed opportunity for Malik to pick up a couple of wickets towards the end of the innings. He also highlighted that Malik has not been given enough opportunities in the past, speculating that India might consider him as a backup option for the upcoming ODI World Cup, particularly if there are any injury concerns with their premier pacers.
Umran Malik made his international debut in June 2022 and has played eight ODIs so far. While he has struggled in T20Is, conceding runs at over 10 per over, his performances in ODIs have been more impressive. With 13 wickets to his name at an economy rate of 6.41, Malik has shown promise in the limited-overs format.
Chopra further noted that Malik’s selection for the ODI series against the West Indies was somewhat surprising, considering his underwhelming performances in the recent Indian Premier League (IPL). However, he raised questions about the decision to exclude Malik from the squad for the Asian Games, speculating that the team management might have identified him as a potential replacement for the injured Jasprit Bumrah.
Bumrah has been out of action since undergoing back surgery in March this year. However, BCCI secretary Jay Shah stated that the fast bowler has fully recovered and might participate in a three-match series in Ireland in August.
Chopra’s observations highlight the dilemma faced by team management in managing the workload and fitness of their key pacers. With the ODI World Cup looming, finding reliable backup options becomes crucial, and Umran Malik’s performance in the first ODI could have provided valuable insights.
It remains to be seen how the team management addresses this issue and whether Umran Malik gets more opportunities to prove his worth in the upcoming matches.
