In a thrilling Ranji Trophy match against defending champions Mumbai on Thursday, Jammu and Kashmir pacer Umar Nazir Mir found himself in a rare situation. He dismissed India captain Rohit Sharma, but as a long-time fan of the star batsman, Nazir did not celebrate the momentous wicket. Despite an outstanding performance in which he was able to collect 4 wickets for just 41 runs on the first day of the Group A match played at the BKC Ground, Nazir praised India captain and restricted his emotions.
The Impressive Seam Bowling Spell of Nazir
The four-wicket haul for Nazir was also a good seam bowling as he took the wickets of Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane for 12, Shivam Dube for 0, and Hardik Tamore for 7. The pacer used the moisture of the fresh wicket to great effect and produced deliveries that moved sharply off the seam, contributing to Mumbai’s early collapse.
However, his most precious scalp was that of Rohit Sharma whose lean run continued in his first Ranji appearance in a decade, managing to score just 3 runs off 19 balls before Nazir sent him packing. Even as the wicket assumed significance, Nazir kept himself from rejoicing over the same because of his admiration for the star player.
A Proud Moment for Nazir
“The first thought in my mind was. I did not celebrate, as a fan of Rohit Sharma. I know he is something, even though I dismissed him,” Nazir said. “I am a big fan of Rohit Sharma. Even if we win this game, it would be a proud moment because India’s captain is playing in the opposition.”
Nazir, a member of the Jammu and Kashmir side that had beaten Mumbai a decade ago at the Wankhede Stadium, said his plan was simple: hit the right length, just ahead of the good length, to get extra bounce and movement off the surface.
No Nerves, Just Focus
Despite the heavy star-studded opposition that featured other key India players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, and Shardul Thakur, Nazir was very composed in the build-up to the match. “I slept off at 10pm last night and woke up around 7am and I was relaxed,” he said, showing how much mental preparation had gone into preparing for the test.
Umar Nazir Mir’s outstanding performance on Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy clash against Mumbai has garnered praise for both his skill and composure. While he dismissed a major international player, his fan-like respect for Rohit Sharma demonstrated his balanced approach to the game, making this achievement all the more special for the Jammu and Kashmir pacer.
