Sunrisers Hyderabad pace sensation Umran Malik clocked the fastest ball of IPL 2022 on Thursday evening, bowling one at 156.9 kph against Delhi Capitals in his side's 21-run loss. His coach Tom Moody had recently likened him to a Ferrari, and the 22-year-old duly pressed the accelerator to record one of the fastest deliveries in the tournament's history: he was nearly 0.7 kph faster than Anrich Nortje's 156.22 kph delivery in 2020, which was logged by the IPL as the fastest delivery between 2012 and 2020.
The delivery was the fourth of the final over of Capitals' innings. It was a length delivery, and well-set power-hitter Rovman Powell, staying deep in the crease, despatched it for a four past cover.
It was otherwise a forgettable evening for Malik in which he sent down four wicketless and leaked 52 runs - the first time he has gone for over 50 runs in 13 IPL matches. Malik's express speeds have grabbed headlines repeatedly this IPL but Capitals blunted him with aggression of their own, including a 21-run first over in which David Warner punished him for bowling on the shorter side, taking two fours and a six either side of the wicket.
Despite getting hit, Malik did not compromise on speed. In that final over, his slowest delivery, the last ball of Capitals' innings, was clocked at 144.3 kph, with four other deliveries north of 153 kph.
Malik, who had been retained by Sunrisers ahead of this year's mega auction, had said after taking his maiden five-for in the IPL - a Player-of-the-Match showing against Gujarat Titans - that he wanted to cross the 155 kph barrier. "God willing, I will bowl 155 as well one day," Malik told host broadcaster Star Sports then.