After elder brother Sarfaraz Khan’s double century (227), younger sibling Musheer Khan claimed his maiden fifer as Mumbai beat Hyderabad by nine wickets in their Elite Group ‘D’ Ranji Trophy match in Hyderabad on Sunday.
Top spot with 30 points
Earning six points from the game, the 42-time champions secured the top spot with 30 points and ensured a quarter-final qualification with one league game, against Delhi (starting on January 29), still remaining.
After posting a mammoth 560 in the first essay, Mumbai enforced the follow-on after bundling out Hyderabad for 267 in their first stint. The hosts then managed 302 all out in the second innings thanks to left-arm spinner Musheer’s brilliant effort with the ball. Playing only his 15th first-class game, the hardworking all-rounder claimed his first five-wicket haul (5-79), shouldering the responsibility well in the absence of experienced spinners Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian and the young Atharva Ankolekar (all out due to injury).
“It feels fantastic to get my first fifer. I’ve picked up three-four wickets in a match earlier, but claiming five wickets is something different. Now I realise how hard a bowler needs to work hard to come up with such a performance in the Ranji Trophy. This [fifer] has boosted my confidence today. I’m eager to replicate this more often, going forward,” Musheer, who scored 11 and took 1-49 in the first essay, told mid-day over the phone from Hyderabad on Sunday.
‘I’m always ready’
When asked about his bowling experience in the absence of senior spinners [Mulani and Kotian], Musheer insisted that he’s always ready. “I always keep myself ready. Even if they [Mulani and Kotian] were playing this match, in the back of my mind, I would’ve always kept thinking what I would do if I got the opportunity to bowl. In their absence, I’m glad I could deliver, along with [off-spinner] Himanshu Singh [who claimed 3-39 in the first innings],” said Musheer, who has scored 339 runs so far with the help of one century (vs Himachal Pradesh) and has picked 13 wickets in six matches this season.
Experienced players away
Mumbai missed its experienced campaigners — India players Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube (all are on national duty) , current captain Shardul Thakur (calf injury) and ex-captain Ajinkya Rahane (due to personal reasons), but Musheer reckoned this young team is ready to shoulder its responsibilities. “We missed all our senior players, but playing for Mumbai is a very big thing and whoever is playing for this time, is perfectly ready. Whoever gets a chance is always keen to perform. We all are khadoos players and always looking to carry forward Mumbai’s cricket legacy,” Musheer signed off.
21
No, of first-class wickets taken by Musheer in 15 matches
4
No. of maiden overs bowled by Musheer in the second innings vs Hyderabad
Brief scores
Mumbai 560 & 12-1 (A Anand 5*, A Herwadkar 4) beat Hyderabad 267 & 302 all out (C Milind 85, K Himateja 43; M Khan 5-79, M Avasthi 3-47, O Tarmale 2-48) by 9 wickets
