Former Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) bowling coach Dale Steyn recently spoke about Umran Malik’s decline. Steyn, who coached SRH in IPL 2022 and 2023, had witnessed Malik’s rise in the tournament.
Malik was SRH’s standout bowler in IPL 2022, taking 22 wickets in 14 matches. He even clocked 156.9 kph that season.
The speedster made his international debut in 2022. He played 18 matches (10 ODIs and eight T20Is) and picked up 24 wickets. However, in 2023, he was dropped due to his high economy rate.
Malik did not perform well in IPL 2023, picking only five wickets in eight games. His economy rate was 10.85. In the 2024 season, he played only one game and gave away 15 runs in an over. Due to this, SRH did not retain him for IPL 2025.
In 2024, Malik played just six domestic games, taking only four wickets. His performance was affected by a hip injury.
“A fast bowler must know when to use their speed wisely” – Dale Steyn on Umran Malik
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Steyn said that Malik was going off the radar. He believed that Malik needed to focus on accuracy rather than just speed.
“Just like a Ferrari has six gears, you don’t have to use all of them. A fast bowler must know when to use their speed wisely,” Steyn said.
He also felt Malik was too focused on bowling fast. “Sometimes, a player gets caught up in the moment. With 60,000 fans cheering, he might think, ‘I must bowl at 160 kph.’ But if that goes against the plan, he could go for 60-70 runs. That won’t help his team or his career.”
Steyn added that bowlers must control their pace and be smart. “A few bad matches, and you are out of the team. A season later, no franchise picks you. A bowler must harness their speed and use it effectively.”
Despite his struggles, Malik was acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during the IPL 2025 auction. Reportedly, he is yet to join KKR’s training camp as he is still recovering from his hip injury.