Who Is Umran Malik? Age, Height, Religion, State & More Personal Details

Umran Malik is an Indian fast bowler based in Gujjar Nagar, Jammu and Kashmir, with a consistent speed of more than 150 kmph. He was recently acquired by the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2025 IPL auction at ₹75 lakh, but missed the season because of injury.
This article discusses the age, height, religion, state and major milestones in the cricketing career of Umran Malik.

Summary – Personal Details

Where Was Umran Malik Born? 

Umran was born on 22 November 1999 in Gujjar Nagar, Jammu, part of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Born in a humble area, not close to the big cricketing hubs in India, he was introduced to the sport by the local grounds and street cricket. His resources and facilities were limited, so he had to depend on pure effort and the natural ability to impress. His passion for bowling was very evident at a very tender age, and others around him started observing the kind of good speed he could create without any formal training.

Although he was born in an area that hardly nurtured international cricketers, Malik never allowed geography to be a limiting factor. His regular attendance during local matches made him noticeable by district and state-level coaches.

With time, he was taken through informal street cricket to formal training, which formed the basis of his professional cricket career. The place of his birth is still a significant part of his identity and still gives hope to many young Jammu players when they see him as an example that talent can be born anytime and anywhere.

Fast, Furious, and Young: Umran Malik’s Physical Stats

Umran is 26 years old as of 2026, which is the age of a fast bowler who is still developing his best years. At an early age, he has already enjoyed international cricket, the demands of the IPL and the anticipation of being the fastest bowler in India. His early exposure to the best of the best competition has provided him with valuable experience and has thus enabled him to know what it is like to compete physically and mentally at the pinnacle of fast bowling.

Malik, who is approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, might seem shorter than most contemporary fast bowlers, but height has never been a challenge. His powerful lower body, explosive run-up and high arm speed gives him the ability to produce extreme pace at all times. Rather than making use of bounce, he relies on speed and aggression to bother batters, demonstrating that skill and strength are more important than height in regards to fast bowling.

Religion and Origin of Umran Malik

Umran is a representative of Jammu and Kashmir, the place that has traditionally been marginal in the mainstream spotlight of Indian cricket. His achievements have helped to change the perception and introduced a new focus on cricketing talent in the region. Representing a state that has fewer opportunities and lesser exposure, the emergence of Malik has become a kind of hope to the aspiring cricketer who represents smaller states and aspires to play on behalf of India.

He is an Islamic believer who has not lost touch with his values and upbringing. Although he does not preach much about religion, his discipline, humility and respect of the game are characteristics of what he was raised with. The experience of Malik demonstrates how sport can transcend regional or cultural boundaries uniting the fan base of the sport.

Meet the Family Behind India’s Fastest Bowler

Umran was born in a middle-class family that worked hard to make a livelihood in the Gujjar Nagar region of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir. His father is Abdul Rashid, who has operated a vegetable and fruit store in the local market over a long period to help their family. It is a source of livelihood which Abdul Rashid worked before Umran became famous and he still worked after his son started earning as a professional cricketer which was a sign of humility and also a sign of adherence to his roots.

His mother, Seema Begum, was the homemaker and family caregiver and was reportedly a very warm and supportive figure in the younger years of Malik as he learned to play cricket. His parents played a major role in his upbringing, and they fostered his passion in cricketing by starting with the time he was a child playing with a plastic ball in the lanes and open grounds of his neighbourhood and having the freedom to pursue his passion in the game despite the scarcity of resources.

Umran was a child among three children in the family, and his sisters were older than him, which influenced his life significantly. One of his sisters is called Shehnaaz Malik and the name of the other sister is not well known. As family interviews show, his sisters were protective and supportive and would tend to watch him at his play and cheered him on, and the immediate childhood friends and relatives remember how the entire family rejoiced with his initial achievements.

The support of his family paid off as Malik was chosen as a net bowler in the T20 World Cup team of India and proved to be good in the IPL with a top speed of over 150 kmph and being praised by the best of cricketers. 

The accomplishment of Malik has awakened a wave of passion in young cricketers in Jammu and Kashmir. Children have started to imitate his speed on the local fields, and some banners honouring his accomplishments have been displayed in his hometown. Players and coaches at the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association regard him as a source of hope, having demonstrated that with dedication and enthusiasm, it is possible to create the highest quality talent even in areas with little exposure to professional cricket. 

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Domestic Cricket Career and Achievements

Umran began his career in domestic cricket with Jammu & Kashmir, where he participated in tournaments such as the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He was particularly fast early in his career, frequently exceeding 150km/h in bowling which attracted the attention of coaches and selectors in a less developed cricketing area. This enabled him to become a major strike bowler in his state team, playing important wickets in big matches and he demonstrated potential in challenging tougher competitions.

Key Domestic Achievements

• He has a history of bowling faster than 150km/h during domestic T20 matches, demonstrating superior raw pace at a very early age and becoming one of only a handful of bowlers in India who can generate such speed on a regular basis, which instantly made him a threat to batters in domestic events.

• He had 4/24 against Maharashtra in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy that not only shook their batting order but also showed that this player could play under pressure in some of the key domestic matches.

• Defeated Uttar Pradesh with a 3/37 in the same tournament, which again only served to confirm that his wicket-taking abilities were not specific to a single match and had instead established his reputation as a solid strike bowler on behalf of Jammu & Kashmir.

IPL and International Career 

Umran Malik began his IPL career in 2021 when Sunrisers Hyderabad signed and made the debut against Kolkata Knight Riders. He soon made a name of his fast pace, and he immediately became conspicuous in a league composed of fast bowlers of experience. In the seasons he was with SRH, he was known to be capable of providing much-needed breakthroughs in high-pressure situations, and the pace of attack in the team whenever he played.

Kolkata Knight Riders purchased him in the 2025 IPL auction. Unluckily, an injury disqualified him at the start of the season, and he did not have a chance to produce with his new team.

At the global level, he played his T20I debut in June 2022 against Ireland and ODI debut in November 2022 against New Zealand. Although he is still adapting to the demands of international cricket, he has occasionally displayed hints of his potential and uncooked pace that promise the Indian pace attack in limited overs in the next few years.

Key Achievements 

• IPL Debut and Auction Journey:  In 2021, he made his debut in the IPL and was purchased by Sunrisers Hyderabad after being bid ₹20 lakh. His price shot high after being held by SRH at 4 crores in 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons taking into account his pace and influence. He was sold to the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2025 mega auction at a price of ₹75 lakh, reflecting a change of approach to the team strategy and the issues of injuries.

• Breakthrough Season (IPL 2022): This was the most successful IPL season that he played as he featured in 14 matches and got 22 wickets and was ranked as one of the most successful wicket-takers of the season and became the key member of the SRH bowling line-up. His match-winning capacity was captured by his best bowling figures of 5/25 against Gujarat Titans.

• Overall IPL Stats: In his full four-year IPL career (2021-24), Malik made 26 appearances, bowled 82.1 overs, and gave up 772 runs and took 29 wickets, averaging 26.62, with an economy of 9.39, and one five-wicket performance, demonstrating how he can take wickets when given a consistent opportunity.

• Fastest Deliveries: He has ranked highly in the speed tables in the IPL with deliveries up to 157 km/h, making him one of the fastest bowlers in the league history and a pace danger that is rare among the Indians.

• T20 International Stats: He made his T20I debut in June 2022, playing 8 matches and 11 wickets with a bowling average of approximately 26 and a best figure of 3/48, which is a positive indicator at the beginning of his international career.

• One Day International Stats: After making his debut in the ODIs in November 2022, he appeared in 10 games and took 13 wickets with best of 3-57  which shows that he could readjust the tempo and abilities to the 50-over game.

Umran Malik’s Journey from a Small Town to Cricket Stardom

The story of Umran Malik is one of hard work and skill, who went through small localities of Gujjar Nagar, Jammu and Kashmir, to the large platforms of Indian cricket. His age, height, state of origin and religious identity also contribute to the inspiring story that is keeping young cricketers all over India motivated.

He has shown glimpses of his potential on the international scene despite the injuries and the competition. His success in the limited-overs game at a young age indicates that he has the potential to become a big fast bowler in India. His career shows people the importance of hard work and performance in helping a player to rise to the top of local leagues to become a national player and be a beacon of hope to other aspiring cricketers.

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