*‘Khajuria, Nazir future of Indian cricket’: ‘Coach, skipper much supportive’
Rajesh Dhar
JAMMU, Dec 10: Jammu and Kashmir Ranji Trophy team, the party of talented youngsters and experienced campaigners, continued its rapid rise in the domestic circuit, notching up a stunning 4-wicket triumph over 40-time champions Mumbai with more than a session to spare in their Group A Ranji Trophy cricket opener at the Wankhede Stadium here.
Chasing a modest target of 237 and commencing at their overnight 58 for one, J&K kept composure despite losing five more wickets to reach the target 73 minutes after lunch on the fourth and final day.
The visitors lost overnight unbeaten batsman Bandeep Singh quite early, but then were aided by small partnerships that steered them home.
First innings centurion promising Shubhum Khajuria made 78 in 227 minutes before he was out when the side needed 66 more runs for the victory.
He added 52 runs with Ian Dev Singh Chauhan (30) for the third wicket to set the side on way to the target.
Later, Khajuria put on 53 invaluable runs with his captain Parvez Rasool (32) in 63 balls for the fourth wicket to bring Jammu and Kashmir closer to the target.
Though both departed at the same score of 171, experienced Hardeep Singh (41 not out) guided the team towards the target by adding 44 runs for the sixth wicket with Waseem Raza.
After the latter’s dismissal, Hardeep, who batted for 104 minutes and hit four fours, added 22 runs for the unconquered seventh wicket with wicketkeeper Obaid Haroon (9 not out) to dash Mumbai’s hopes.
“To beat Mumbai in Mumbai is a great achievement. Our graph has been rising steadily over the last 2-3 years, but we were told playing in elite division is different. We have answered that question,” said Rasool beating the heavyweights in their very first clash in 80 years of the tournament.
Team coach Sunil Joshi said for the first time in the last 20 years, he saw Mumbai batsmen “showing vulnerability against pace bowling.”
Meanwhile, when contacted by EXCELSIOR after his team’s historic victory, skipper Rasool said, “the victory over 40-time Ranji Trophy champions, Mumbai today is simply a befitting reply rather a lesson for those who doubted the talent, skill and the credibility of the Jammu and Kashmir Ranji Trophy team”.
He said after qualifying for the quarterfinals last year, some people from cricketing community used to say that the qualification in the last four stage was an easy task as the rival teams were not so strong in Plate Group. Or in other words, they put a question mark on skill and talent of the players.
He added that this victory showed such people that there is no dearth of talent as the Jammu and Kashmir boys beat the best in the country.
Praising skill, courage and temperament of experienced Ramdayal Punia (8 wkts) and the youngsters Shubham Khajuria (century and 78 runs) and Omar Nazir (5 important wkts), Parvez said that these youngsters are the future of Indian cricket.
Rasool further said that the team is jelling up well and playing as a cohesive unit under the team’s coach, Sunil Joshi, former Test cricketer, adding that the team members have to be focused to beat the formidable sides like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal in the Group.
When contacted, the star performer Shubham while dedicating the historic victory to flood victims said that he has no words to express his feelings as he simply felt ecstatic and blissful for this awesome performance.
Shubham further said that the support and advice he got from coach Joshi and skipper Rasool was extremely fruitful.
“Joshi Sir (Sunil Joshi) and Parry Bhai (Parvez Rasool) every time used to encourage me by saying that the time was ripe for me to hit a cracking century against Mumbai, adding that I possessed all that is required to do so,” expressed Shubham.
Ramdayal Punia, who had a match haul of 8 wickets, with 5-for in the second innings was all praise for the team as a whole.
He said that the application, dedication and cohesiveness of the team as a whole was really delight to watch.
Youngster Omar Nazir, who took 5 wickets in the match with 4 at crucial stages in the second innings was of the similar opinion, saying that every member of the team along with the support staff has a part to play in the victory.
Chairman Media Committee JKCA, Ranjeet Kalra and Media Manger, Shahana Fatima while expressing their views over the victory said, “it was Parvez Rasool’s breaking in the big league that has encouraged and inspired the other players to do better with confidence. Coach Sunil Joshi has also a big role to play in the victory.”
Lavishing praise on the team’s wonderful performance, the chairman of selection committee Ashvinder Koul and the member selection committee Shahid Parvez have termed the youngsters Shubham Khajuria and Omar Nazir as the cricketers of next generation.
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