Umran Malik breaks his own record with 156kph delivery

Indian speedster Umran Malik broke his own record by clocking the fastest delivery ever by an Indian bowler. In the first ODI against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, January 10, Malik bowled a fiery 156 kph delivery, breaking his own record of 155 kph which he had set during the first T20I against Sri Lanka last week, on January 4.

In the T20I game when Malik clocked the 155 kph delivery, he broke Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah’s record of 153.36 kph. While putting his potential on display, Malik troubled the Sri Lankan bowlers with his pace as the visitors struggled to score off his deliveries in the first ODI. The 23-year-old Srinagar-born pacer is now India’s fastest bowler, leaving behind big names like Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.

In the game, Malik registered his career-best ODI figures of 3/57 as he picked up three crucial wickets in the eight overs that he bowled. In six ODI games, Malik has 10 wickets to his name, and the youngster has managed to maintain his economy rate at 6.21. He contributed towards India’s win in the first game as the Men in Blue took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Virat Kohli’s ton takes India one up in the series

Speaking of the game, India posted a humungous total of 373/7 on board after batting first. Openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill shared a 143-run stand and got the side off to a flying start. But it was a Virat Kohli show at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, as the former Indian skipper notched up his second consecutive century, prompting India to the massive score.

Chasing a target of 374 runs, Sri Lanka were reduced to 206/8 after Indian bowlers dominated till the 38th over. But skipper Dasun Shanaka played like a lone warrior and stole the limelight by hitting a magnificent century as Indian bowlers failed to pick the final two wickets. His unbeaten 88-ball 108* went in vain as Sri Lanka could not chase the target, and lost the game by 67 runs.