Overview
- Sunil Narine said raw speed can swing games on small IPL grounds and hopes to see Malik operating around 145–150 kph.
- Malik missed the previous IPL with a hip injury that forced Kolkata to name Chetan Sakariya as his replacement.
- Kolkata signed the seamer at his Rs 75 lakh base price after his release from Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of the 2025 season.
- The pacer’s prior IPL résumé features a 157 kph delivery and 29 wickets in 26 matches, including a best of 5 for 25 and a 22-wicket 2022 campaign.
- Andre Russell has retired from playing in the IPL and joined Kolkata as power-hitting coach for the 2026 season, Narine noted.