An undefeated double century in the quarterfinal, a pivotal fifty in the semifinal, and a composed century in the final match highlight Musheer Khan’s remarkable performance. Particularly impressive is the fact that despite being dropped from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad after scoring only 96 runs in five innings, he managed such feats over the past four weeks.
Delighted to have played a significant role in Mumbai’s recovery of the Ranji Trophy after an eight-year gap, the 19-year-old harbors no reservations about acknowledging the pivotal innings that turned the tide.
“The double century during the quarterfinal remains unforgettable, marking my comeback. However, the century in the final holds even greater significance,” Musheer expressed to The Hindu. “Given the stakes of the final match, the team relied on me to anchor the innings, and I’m immensely pleased to have delivered.”
Musheer’s marathon innings (136 runs, 472 minutes, 326 balls, including 10 boundaries) in the second innings, lasting just under eight hours, played a pivotal role in Mumbai’s decisive victory over Vidarbha at the Wankhede Stadium. Mirroring his performance in the quarterfinal, he was once again awarded the Player of the Match title for his stellar contribution in the final showdown.
Musheer’s standout performances in the knockout matches have allowed him to emerge from the shadow of his elder brother, Sarfaraz Khan, who recently earned his long-awaited Test cap. Interestingly, Sarfaraz also scored 134 runs in Mumbai’s previous Ranji final, during the 2021-22 season against MP in Bengaluru, albeit in a losing effort.
When asked if he would tease Sarfaraz for scoring a century in a winning match, Musheer promptly replied, “No, never.” Musheer, who was part of Mumbai’s reserves for the final in Bengaluru, continued, “He also notched up an outstanding hundred, but regrettably, the team couldn’t clinch the victory. However, I’m just beginning my journey, with a long road ahead.”
After making his mark in the Under-19 World Cup with two centuries prior to joining Mumbai’s squad, Musheer acknowledged feeling more confident in his game now. However, he demonstrated maturity by emphasizing that the Under-19 level served as merely a stepping stone.
“Junior cricket marks the beginning rather than the end-goal. I’m thrilled to have proven myself at this level, and I aim to further develop my skills in the upcoming season,” Musheer remarked optimistically.
