Big Setback for KKR's Umran Malik ahead of IPL 2026; J&K ignores him for THIS tournament

Umran Malik will be playing for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

The Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) have sent a clear message to Umran Malik. They have dropped him from the squad for the second phase of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26.

The team are currently getting ready for red-ball matches again after white-ball leg of Indian domestic season. Selectors have picked a 15-man squad that leaves out India’s current fastest bowler.

This snub is the latest blow in a rough domestic season for the pacer. He also missed out on the entire Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 campaign.

Reports suggest that poor form was the main reason. Malik played just one Ranji match against Rajasthan in the first phase. He lacked his usual bite and finished without a single wicket.

While the 26-year-old took six wickets in five Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy games, he didn’t do enough to convince the management he’s ready for red-ball cricket. The association has decided to stick with more consistent players.

This leaves the 26-year-old searching for answers about his future. Fans who hoped to see his 150 kmph thunderbolts in domestic cricket must now face the fact that the team are moving on under Ajay Sharma without their struggling star.

J&K squad for Ranji Trophy 2025-26

Shubam Khajuria, Dikshant Kundal, Yawar Hassan, Paras Dogra, Abdul Samad, Shubam Pundir, Kanhaiya Wadhwan, Kawalpreet Singh, Abid Mushtaq, Vanshaj Sharma, Sahil Lotra, Aqib Nabi, Yudhvir Singh, Umar Nazir and Sunil Kumar. 

International Slump and the IPL Lifeline for Umran Malik

This dip in form is a far cry from Umran Malik’s explosive start for India. He caught everyone’s eye in 2022 by constantly hitting the 150 kmph mark. This raw pace helped Malik break into the Indian team quickly. He played 10 ODIs and 8 T20Is, taking 24 wickets in total. However, he leaked too many runs, which often frustrated his captains.

Umran hasn’t looked like the same dangerous bowler since his last game for India in July 2023. Even so, he has one big chance left. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have kept him for the 2026 IPL season. They have put ₹75 lakh behind his potential.

This is a massive career lifeline for Malik. He must use the IPL to show he can control his extreme pace. If Umran can hit his marks and rattle batters in the T20 league, he might just get the national selectors’ attention again.

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