"Blue jersey coming soon!" - Fans erupt as Umran Malik destroys Punjab with raw pace in IPL 2022
Retained Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) speedster Umran Malik once again repaid the faith shown by the franchise with a sensational performance against the dangerous batting line-up of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Sunday.
The 22-year-old ended up with brilliant figures of 4/28 and bowled an incredible last over, conceding zero runs and picking up three wickets. PBKS lost four wickets in the last over, including a run-out, and were bowled out for just 151 in their 20 overs.
It was only the third time in the history of the IPL that a team has conceded no runs in the 20th over. There were a lot of theories about Umran Malik being just a speed merchant that gives away a lot of runs. However, he has shown much-needed control in the last two games and has emerged as a genuine wicket-taker for SRH.
Fans on Twitter were thrilled to see such a fantastic performance from Malik. Some believe he will soon play for India, given his searing pace and accuracy.
Here are some of the reactions:
#PBKSvSRHThis last over by #UmranMalik was surreal. A maiden with 3 wickets and a run-out. Stuffs of dream! What a tournament Umran is having in #IPL2022 Blue jersey coming soon 馃嚠馃嚦 #PBKSvSRH
4 wickets in the final over, 3 by Umran Malik without conceding a single run. What an over, excellent stuff.
Umran Malik continues to learn and show improvement. That鈥檚 the most heartening thing.
Umran Malik's destruction in last two matches - Cracking Yorkers. https://t.co/pvBghaZUQp
Umran Malik quickly turning into Dale Steyn's passion project. He's super excited every time Umran does something.
Caps it off with a maiden over in the 20th over of the innings 馃憣
#PBKSvSRH
So many people criticized Umran Malik for his pace when He was leaking runs but can't see the same people appreciating now when the same pace is giving him wickets.
Umran Malik HAS to be everyone鈥檚 favourite youngster in the IPL, this is peak T20 bowling
Most wickets in the 20th over of an IPL match without conceding a run
3: Umran Malik vs PBKS*
3: Jaydev Unadkat vs SRH
2: Lasith Malinga vs Deccan
#UmranMalik
Triple wicket maiden that too in the last over of the innings.Unreal stuff this from umran Malik.
Last over from Umran Malik. Outstanding
0 W 0 W W W(Run out)
What a talent, take due care of him, @SunRisers & @DaleSteyn62
0,wicket,0,wicket, wicket, wicket (run-out) by Umran Malik in the 20th over. #IPL2022 https://t.co/j2u8XEtemf
Umran Malik is what we believed Navdeep Saini to be. Class apart 馃敟
#PBKSvSRH
Umran Malik that鈥檚 one fine looking death over if ever I鈥檝e seen one! 馃槼 #PBKSvSRH https://t.co/EutjQou07l
Umran Malik's in the last two matches in this IPL 2022:-
4-0-27-2
4-0-28-4
Exceptional Umran Malik. https://t.co/MDYrS3vGlq
A triple wicket maiden for a final over is an outstanding effort from young Umran Malik. Skills and raw pace and great execution is gold stuff.
#PBKSvSRH
Maybe the next overseas cycle down under we see the pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna & Umran Malik under the leadership of Rishabh Pant.
Let this be a dream. 馃敟
#UmranMalik #SRHvsPBKS #Pace #Fastbowling
An Indian fast bowler is earning the kind of hype that is usually reserved for the Archers and the Rabadas of the cricket world. Long way to go for Umran Malik, but what a retention from SRH.
Definitely all credit goes to Dale Steyn sir, who gave a most talented and genuine pace bowler 
Umran Malik the Speedstar. Love to watch his sheer pace with consistency and accuracy馃挭 Definitely all credit goes to Dale Steyn sir, who gave a most talented and genuine pace bowler 馃憦
#UmranMalik #SRHvsPBKS #PBKSvSRH #Dalesteyn
Teacher Student https://t.co/toLoXyPBlk
Umran Malik has picked four wickets in last over.
#UmranMalik https://t.co/MwBO9k9Bri
Umran Malik derails PBKS with fantastic spell
PBKS suffered a big blow as captain Mayank Agarwal was out injured. Naturally, they struggled at the top of the order and lost three quick wickets. Liam Livingstone, however, continued his prolific form and took the attack to the SRH bowlers.
While the other batters struggled to time the ball, Livingstone played a responsible knock and brought up his third 50 of the season. Jitesh Sharma gave him a bit of support, but was dismissed by a sensational short ball from Umran Malik.
With five overs to go and the score being 122/4, PBKS backed themselves to reach near the 180-run mark, with Livingstone and Shahrukh Khan at the crease. They also had the explosive Odean Smith waiting in the wings.
However, the Sunrisers bowlers displayed a top-class death bowling exhibition. They mixed their line and length and kept the batters guessing. Livingstone remained off strike for quite a while and that disturbed his rhythm.
Despite losing Livingstone for 60, PBKS still had Smith at the crease and were hopeful of a strong finish in the last over. However, Umran Malik first dismissed Odean Smith with a short ball and then picked up the wickets of Rahul Chahar and Vaibhav Arora by attacking the stumps.
He missed out on a well-deserved IPL hattrick, but ended up bowling a sensational maiden over. The SRH batters are in good form and will back themselves to chase down what looks like a modest target of 152.
To see list of IPL winner, click here.