Mumbai, Jan 23: For Umar Nazir Mir, taking the wicket of Rohit Sharma was a significant achievement, yet as a devoted fan of the Indian captain, he found it difficult to celebrate the moment during the Ranji Trophy match against the defending champions, Mumbai, on Thursday.
The 31-year-old pacer made an impressive impact on the first day of the Group A match, claiming 4 wickets for 41 runs. Among his victims was Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who continued his string of poor performances in his first Ranji match in a decade.
Utilizing the moist conditions of the fresh pitch at BKC Ground, Nazir effectively dismissed Mumbai’s skipper Ajinkya Rahane (12), Shivam Dube (0), and Hardik Tamore (7), alongside Rohit, showcasing remarkable seam bowling.
“A good ball is effective against any player, regardless of their stature. However, getting Rohit Sharma out feels significant, and I’m pleased,” Nazir remarked to the media after the day’s play.
“My first instinct was to hold back my celebrations since I admire Rohit Sharma. I recognize his greatness, even though I managed to get him out. I genuinely look up to him.
“Winning this match would be a proud achievement, especially with India’s captain on the opposing side,” he added. Nazir was part of the J&K team that triumphed over a highly-rated Mumbai side in their Ranji Trophy encounter at Wankhede Stadium a decade ago.
In addition to skillfully moving the ball, Nazir mentioned that targeting the right length just ahead of the good length was his strategy on the opening day, which also helped create extra bounce—eventually leading to Rohit’s dismissal after scoring just 3 runs off 19 balls.
“Taking the wicket of an international player is always something to cherish. There was assistance from the pitch, and I aimed to bowl in the right areas. Dismissing Rohit Sharma is crucial for both my team and me personally,” he explained.
Nazir also noted that he wasn’t nervous before the match, despite facing Mumbai’s roster filled with other Indian players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, and Shardul Thakur.
“I went to bed at 10 PM the night before and woke up at 7 AM, feeling relaxed,” he joked. (Agencies)
