Jammu Tearaway To Ranchi Test Star: BCCI List For Fast-Bowling Contracts

From tearaway Umran Malik, Bengal speedster Akash Deep who made his Test debut in Ranchi in the ongoing red-ball series against England to highly-rated Karnataka pacer Vidwath Kaverappa, a select complement of rising Indian speed guns were handed retainership contracts by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The BCCI, on Wednesday, picked promising speedsters Akash Deep, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Umran Malik, Yash Dayal and Vidwath Kaverappa as part of a specially curated group for fast bowling contracts. "The Selection Committee has also recommended Fast Bowling contracts for the following athletes - Akash Deep, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Umran Malik, Yash Dayal and Vidwath Kaverappa," the BCCI, cricket's top administrative body in the country, informed through an official statement on Wednesday.

After setting the speed gun on fire in his breakthrough season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, clocking speeds in excess of 150 kmph, Umran Malik made his India debut in limited overs.

However, following indifferent returns during his brief run for India in limited-overs cricket, Umran fell out of favour with the national selectors. The 24-year-old Jammu lad has had a lean patch in the ongoing Ranji season, picking up just four wickets in five matches for Jammu and Kashmir.

However, Umran's ability to bowl at express pace and deliver scorching toe-crushers at will was for all to see during the IPL's 2022 edition where he picked up 22 wickets in just 14 matches. The raw pace makes Umran a genuine threat against batters and he would be eyeing another fruitful season as the IPL returns this March.

Uncapped Karnataka pacer Vijaykumar Vyshak, who is more than capable of breaching the 140 kmph mark, has