Young Indian pacer Umran Malik was handed his maiden ODI cap for India on Friday (November 25), when he was selected in the playing XI for the first ODI of a three-match series against New Zealand at the Eden Park in Auckland.
The 23-year-old fast-bowler was part of India’s T20I team as well for the three-match T20I series against New Zealand, but he failed to find a place in the playing XI. But in the first ODI, he was included in the playing XI ahead of Deepak Chahar. The 23-year-old was one of the two debutants for India on Friday (November 25), as along with him, Arshdeep Singh, who has already established his place in the T20I team, made his ODI debut for the Men in Blue.In the first ODI, Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and invited India to bat first, after which, riding on skipper Shikhar Dhawan’s 77-ball 72, Shubman Gill’s 50, and Shreyas Iyer’s 80, India posted a total of 306 runs for the loss of 7 wickets.
In response to a 307-run target, the Kiwis made a steady start, adding 35 runs for the first wicket before Shardul Thakur returned Finn Allen to the dugout. In the game, during India’s bowling, all eyes were on Umran Malik, and the pacer was introduced in the 11th over of the innings.
In his first over, he clocked speeds of 145.9, 143.3, 145.6, 147.3, 137.1, and 149.6 kmph and followed it up with 150, 149.8, 143, 141.6, 142.5, and 146.2 kmph in the second over. After impressing with his express pace in the first two overs, Umran got the reward for his hard work on the first ball of the third over. He picked up his maiden ODI wicket when he ended Devon Conway’s stay at the crease.
Conway was caught behind by Rishabh Pant for 24. And on the very next ball after getting his maiden ODI wicket, Umran clocked 153.1 kmph. It was the fastest ball of the match.
