IPL 2021: SRH name Umran Malik as short-term COVID-replacement for T Natarajan

Sunrisers Hyderabad have named Umran Malik as the replacement for their left-arm pacer T Natarajan who tested positive for COVID-19 a couple of days ago. The left-arm pacer contracted the virus ahead of SRH’s game against Delhi Capitals in the second leg. Along with him, Vijay Shankar and five other support staff members were deemed as close contacts and isolated.

As for Umran, he is the short-term replacement of Natarajan and will be with the team only until the pacer recovers from the virus and enters the bubble again. The player testing positive for COVID-19 will have to test negative twice on 9th and 10th day to re-enter the bio-bubble again according to the protocols.

Umran Malik was already with the SRH team in the UAE as the net bowler and was readily available to join the side. He plays domestic cricket for Jammu and Kashmir and has featured in a solitary List A and T20 game each so far. In the only T20 game he played against Bengal earlier this year, Umran returned with the figures of 3/24 in his four overs. He is also a designated all-rounder and it remains to be seen if SRH gives him a chance in the playing XI.

SRH in trouble in IPL 2021

The first leg of the IPL was not so memorable for SRH. They had lost six out of seven matches and needed to hit the straps soon. But the team led by Kane Williamson couldn’t get going at all against the table-toppers Delhi Capitals. After opting to bat first, none of their batsmen could hold the innings and eventually ended up at 134/9 in their 20 overs.

The score was not enough for the bowlers to defend even though they tried their best to restrict the star-studded DC line-up. This was the seventh loss for SRH this season and are now left with winning all their remaining six matches. Even that won’t suffice if more teams reach 16 points in terms of qualification.