Srinagar: Cricket legend ans Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Brian Lara has justified pacer Umran Malik getting dropped from Sunrisers playing eleven in the ongoing IPL 2023.
On Monday, Sunrisers Hyderabad suffered defeat against Gujarat Titans and Umran Malik was again on the bench after having frustrating time in this seasons IPL.
Umran Malim has only played seven matches this season and his economy has been on higher levels as well.
“You just have to look at the form of the player. We have great expectations of Umran, and he has got Dale Steyn to work with. But we have to play each game to win. We have to put our best eleven out on the field. And now, with the Impact Player, our best 12. It’s strictly on the fact that it’s about the form of the player that we look at before picking the team,” said Lara after his team lost its second consecutive match.
“We have 25 players, and I would have liked you to ask about (Kartik) Tyagi because he is also a special talent and he’s only had one opportunity so far. I can’t see anything wrong in terms of selection. I just feel that every time the team gets on to the park, we are not playing the game that we are supposed to,” Brian Lara said.
Meanwhile Umran, who has played eight ODIs and as many T20Is for India has got backing of former cricketers.
“League’s fastest bowler sitting out baffles me. Umran Malik wasn’t handled well by his team,” Irfan Pathan had said.
Former Australia pacer Brett Lee had also questioned Malik’s absence, “I would love to see Umran Malik in the Powerplay. He has bowled once in a Powerplay this season and he went for 20-odd runs, but that was a one-off case. It’s almost like saying to a batter that you have to bat but if you get a duck you are never going to bat ever again. You need to have faith and you need to have a commitment in these guys coming through”.
Already out of the playoffs race, Sunrisers Hyderabad will play against Mumbai Indians in its last league fixture on Sunday.