Jammu: Speed seems to have become synonymous with up and coming Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) youngster Umran Malik after he tormented Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) with sheer pace and pinpoint accuracy, clocking over 150 kmph -- a sight rarely witnessed in Indian cricket.
Consequently, the Jammu and Kashmir cricketer became an overnight social media sensation, and Twitter feeds were jampacked with applauds and praises.
Read: Definitely not a personal battle, everybody is different: Ashwin on Morgan
If numbers are anything to go by, Malik clocked two deliveries over 150 kmph on the speed gun and his fastest ball was 151.03. The 21-year-old clocked a delivery at 146 kmph speed in his very first over, and he then entered 150s twice on the speed gun.
As a result, he is now the only Indian in the top ten for this season to deliver the fastest balls.
His father, Abdul Rasheed, is "proud" of his achievement and reckons Malik as an extremely "hardworking" child, whose love for the game has brought him at this stage. And he expects nothing but a good performance from his son.
"Umran, congratulations to you for getting a chance to play in the IPL. I keep praying for you, my prayers are always with you. Just keep performing well," his father Abdul Rasheed told Etv Bharat.
Read: IPL 2021: I'm paid to finish games for my side, says DC batter Hetmyer
Praise came in from his skipper Kane Williamson too after the game. "We've been facing him in the nets, and it's something quite special. He's got a lot of pace, he runs in and goes hard. He racked up some fast speeds as well, which is pretty special. What a talent," Williamson said.
Watch the full interview in the video embedded in the story