IPL 2025: Speaking to India Today, JioStar expert and former pacer Sreesanth urged Umran Malik to work smarter to recover from injury setbacks and return to action. Umran, who was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders, was ruled out of IPL 2025 due to an injury.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Thank you for talking to India Today. It's a pleasure speaking to you.
00:04It's a pleasure.
00:05Okay. So, my first question is about Umran Malik.
00:09So, as we know that Umran Malik, when he burst out of the scene, he was an absolute sensation.
00:14But things have gradually gone a little downhill for him.
00:19As he started missing matches in IPL.
00:24Last they got ruled out.
00:26So, what would be your suggestion for him?
00:28He's such a talented bowler. One of the fastest in the country.
00:31So, what would be a suggestion for him to make a comeback?
00:34Very good question. We have been talking about it in the last literally one hour.
00:38About fast bowlers.
00:40So, I would love to say one thing.
00:42That it's very important what you do on off-season.
00:44It's not just what you do on the field.
00:46What you do off the field is so important.
00:48I was very fortunate.
00:50Even whenever he got injured.
00:51We had a strong base in MRF Base Foundation.
00:53Where Ramji Sir used to be our strength and conditioning coach.
00:56Even if you ask Sachin Baji, he will tell you the same.
00:58Because even when we won the 2011 World Cup, he was there.
01:01When Mumbai Indians won the IPL, he was there.
01:03When Mumbai Indians won the Champions League also, he was there.
01:05He is somebody who has been working with Narayan Karthikeyan.
01:08To a lot of international superstars.
01:10Even when it comes to squash, you know, Parli Kelte.
01:13A lot of people have been working with him.
01:15It's just that it is very important to have a great coach.
01:19And to listen to them.
01:21In this generation, we have so many distractions.
01:25I won't question that.
01:27But whatever you do, you make sure you don't miss any training sessions.
01:30You don't miss any flexibility sessions or meditation sessions or visualizations.
01:36You cannot just expect to go to the gym, come back, go to the ground and perform.
01:41You need to have a proper routine plan.
01:43Because it's become so professional.
01:45Every team, whether it's playing IPL or in India.
01:48Even the company teams have become so professional.
01:50In India, we have so much talent.
01:53My request to Umran will be, he is a great guy.
01:55He is a great kid.
01:56He is actually super fit.
01:58It's just a matter of being match fit.
02:00And playing those matches.
02:01You have to play a lot of matches also.
02:03Not just the workouts.
02:05So, you have to know when to accelerate.
02:08It's not just bowling 155 every ball.
02:10But you should know where to give that all out.
02:13Which matches are the ones.
02:15What practice sessions you should have.
02:17Kabil sir used to tell me long time back.
02:21The more you bowl, the better you get.
02:23So, it's very important that he understands.
02:26That thin line between foolishness and bravery.
02:28That's the way Ramji sir always used to say.
02:31There is a very thin line between foolishness and bravery.
02:33Be brave enough to do those training sessions.
02:35And not to miss any sessions.
02:37And be consistent.
02:38And the most important thing for any fast bowler, any artist or any athlete is recovery.
02:43And the recovery is very important.
02:44Recovery is not just going out or going out with dinners.
02:47Or going out with your friends.
02:49But recovery is doing those swimming pool sessions.
02:52Ice baths.
02:53Having the right meal.
02:55One of the most important things for a fast bowler.
02:57Anything for that matter is what you put in.
03:00So, I was very fortunate that I was with MRF.
03:02And I was with those very good circle.
03:04Where we had the International Athlete Forum.
03:07They used to send us to Australian Institute of Sport.
03:11So, it's very important.
03:12Umran Malik also.
03:14Forget the past.
03:16Wake up.
03:17It's a new day.
03:18I am very confident.
03:19The kind of bowler he is.
03:21Even for that matter, Mayank.
03:22It's just a matter of having that video system.
03:25That, okay, I am going to play for the country.
03:27And win matches consistently.
03:28For that, I need to follow.
03:30I will not say sacrifice.
03:31I think one year back, Virat said something very nicely.
03:37He said, there is nothing called sacrifice if you love that.
03:40If you are doing the love for the game, there is nothing called a sacrifice.
03:45It's because you love that game.
03:46You don't miss any parties or you don't miss any functions.
03:49Because you are not sacrificing it.
03:51Because you love your game so much.
03:53You have to be in the gym.
03:54You have to be in the ground.
03:55You have to play those matches.
03:56So, I will request all these fast bowlers.
03:59Don't worry.
04:00Whatever happened, it's happened.
04:01Get into routine.
04:02Life is a beautiful journey.
04:04There are so many matches to go.
04:05So many franchises are there.
04:07You don't get picked in one franchise.
04:08If you are good enough, you will get picked by other franchises.
04:11Umran Malik, the kind of talent he is.
04:13All he has to do is run in.
04:14Bowl fast.
04:15He will get picked.
04:16So, since we are talking about getting picked by other franchises,
04:20do you believe that not playing at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru
04:24will come as a certain relief for Mahmud Siraj?
04:27Not really.
04:30I mean, I enjoy bowling.
04:32It's got good carry.
04:34If you have the seam position right and if you hit the seam right,
04:38there is a nice bounce.
04:42You get a nice swing in the ground, especially under the lights.
04:46Yes, it goes a long way.
04:48It goes for a lot of runs.
04:49But, how do I say that?
04:52The right way to say is when the conditions are against you,
04:55it is more fun to perform and do well.
04:59And when the conditions are with you,
05:01you should be winning that match single-handedly.
05:04So, when your conditions are not favourable,
05:07be that team man who supports the team and not try to be a superstar there.
05:13You got to have a proper plan every game, every ground, every wicket you play.
05:20Not every fast bowler can just run in and bowl fast in every single wicket
05:23and expect to perform.
05:25That doesn't happen every single day.
05:26So, the cricket has improved so much.
05:28You need to have a proper plan.
05:29You need to listen to those experience and analytics.
05:33That's what I say.
05:35Sometimes, you got to step back and understand your bowling better.
05:42And be consistent in that.
05:44And listen to your captain and your senior cricketers who got more experience.
05:48Run in, bowl those bowls, but then execute them really well.
05:51One last question.
05:53Now that Riyan Parag is captain of the Rajasthan Royals for the first three matches,
05:58it must have come as a surprise to him now that Sanju Samson is not there.
06:02How would you rate Riyan Parag the captain?
06:04We all know how good Parag is as a batter.
06:07But how would you rate him as a skipper?
06:09I haven't seen much of him.
06:13But I think he did lead his state side.
06:16And one of the matches against Kerala, I remember him doing well.
06:21And he has been consistently doing well in first-class matches also.
06:26So, I would love to see.
06:28Even though Sanju is not playing, I am sure he is going to be there helping him out.
06:31And they got a very good unit.
06:33That unit will surely help him.
06:35And yeah, I don't see any much difference just because Riyan Parag is leading.
06:41He has got a great mindset.
06:44If you remember last year, he was one of the highest run-getters.
06:49And he did that consistently.
06:51On the verge of getting dropped from the team, he came back and scored those 500 runs.
06:54So, he will be looking forward.
06:57And he got that captaincy for his performance.
06:59And that is a great thing for all the youngsters who are watching this league.
07:02It doesn't matter your age.
07:03It doesn't matter where you come from.
07:05It all matters on performance and consistent performance.
07:07No matter how bad the setbacks are, if you can come back and bounce back.
07:11Riyan Parag is the answer.
07:13He is the captain of an IPL squad.
07:15All the best to him.
07:16Thank you so much, Shree.