India B team player Musheer Khan celebrates his century during the first day of Duleep Trophy 2024 match between India A and India B teams, at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Thursday, Sept 5, 2024. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)Despite an overcast morning, a green texture to the M.Chinnaswamy wicket, and his side India B in trouble teenager Musheer Khan showed his temperament. With solid defense and crisp shot-making pulled his side out of the hole on Day 1. Carrying his bat overnight Musheer fell shot of 19 runs for his double hundred.
A steady collapse which saw his team reeling at 94 for seven on Day 1 prompted Musheer to gradually unfurl his attacking range. Having devoured spin in the domestic and age-group circuit, Musheer chose his battles wisely. He displayed admirable dexterity when he sliced and swept left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav and took on off-spinner Tanush Kotian.
The knock in the Duleep Trophy game is more of a check of temperament than Musheer’s skill set. He churned out 360 runs at an average of 60 in the U-19 World Cup held earlier this year in South Africa where India lost in the final. later in the year, he won the Ranji Trophy with Mumbai. His ton in the final made him the youngest batter (19 years 14 days) to score a ton surpassing Sachin Tendulkar.
“My brother (Sarfaraz Khan) and I have the same game. I try to follow whatever he does. In the middle, he only asked me to follow my technique. Usne bola agar tere ko lagta aage bad sakta hai, to aage bad kar khel (If you feel like moving forward, go ahead and do it),” Musheer said post Day-1 play.
Despite the failure elder on Thursday brother Sarfaraz too has a habit of piling on big scores consistently. “Acha time chal raha hai, dunno bhai ka time chal raha hai (The fortunes of both brothers have changed). I don’t want to think too much,” Musheer said at the end of the day’s play at the BKC ground earlier this year after scoring his maiden first-class ton.
“Bhai just said acha kiya hai ab tak par real cricket ab shuru hone wala hai. Taiyaar hona uske liye. (You have played well till now but the real cricket begins now. Be ready for it.) Just stay at the wicket and runs will come.” Musheer would recall about the advice given to him by Sarfaraz.
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