In a thrilling Ranji Trophy match held in Hyderabad on Sunday, Musheer Khan, younger brother of double centurion Sarfaraz Khan, celebrated his first five-wicket haul as Mumbai triumphed over Hyderabad by nine wickets. This victory not only earned them six points but also solidified their top position in Elite Group ‘D’ with a total of 30 points, ensuring their qualification for the quarter-finals with one league match left against Delhi, starting January 29.
Mumbai set a formidable target by scoring 560 runs in their first innings, while Hyderabad struggled, getting bowled out for 267. In the second innings, Hyderabad managed 302 runs, largely due to Musheer’s exceptional performance with the ball. In just his 15th first-class match, the determined all-rounder took 5 wickets for 79 runs, stepping up in the absence of seasoned spinners Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, and the young Atharva Ankolekar, all sidelined due to injuries.
“I’m thrilled to achieve my first fifer. I’ve taken three or four wickets in a match before, but reaching five is a whole different level. This experience has made me realize the effort bowlers must put in to excel in the Ranji Trophy, and it has significantly boosted my confidence. I’m eager to replicate this success in future matches,” Musheer shared over the phone from Hyderabad.
When asked about stepping into a leading role in the absence of senior spinners, Musheer expressed his readiness. “I always keep myself prepared. Even if Mulani and Kotian were playing, I would have been thinking about how I could contribute. I’m glad I could deliver in their absence, alongside off-spinner Himanshu Singh, who took 3 wickets in the first innings,” he noted.
Despite missing key players like Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube (all on national duty), and captain Shardul Thakur (calf injury), Musheer is confident in the abilities of the younger squad. “We missed our senior players, but representing Mumbai is a tremendous honor. Everyone on the field is eager to perform and uphold the legacy of Mumbai cricket. We are all khadoos players, ready to take on the challenge,” he concluded.
Musheer has taken 21 first-class wickets in 15 matches, including four maiden overs in the second innings against Hyderabad.
Brief Scores: Mumbai 560 & 12-1 (A Anand 5*, A Herwadkar 4) defeated 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.