18-year-old Musheer Khan continues red-hot form with maiden first-class hundred in Ranji Trophy knockouts
Musheer Khan, the 18-year-old brother of new India star Sarfaraz Khan, made a solo-effort hundred, his first in first-class cricket, for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy quarter-finals as he continued his excellent run of form in the Under-19 World Cup into senior cricket.
The right-hander came in at No.3 after a half-century opening stand, and received only limited support as he carried his side to 248-5 at stumps. Baroda took regular wickets, with Prithvi Shaw’s 33 and Hardik Tamore’s unbeaten 30 the next highest scores, but Musheer ensured Mumbai didn’t fold. He hit 10 fours in his 216-ball innings and will resume tomorrow with plans of putting up a monster score.
Elsewhere for Mumbai, Ajinkya Rahane’s poor form continued, the state captain dismissed for three. Bharghav Bhatt was the star Baroda bowler, claiming 4-82. Mumbai topped Elite Group B, but came into the game without India stars Shreyas Iyer and Shivam Dube, who were each injured.
That paved the way for Musheer’s first first-class game in over a year, having played three games for Mumbai in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy without making an impact. He came into this game in excellent form outside of first-class cricket however, having finished as the second top-scorer in the Under-19 World Cup, hitting two hundreds, against New Zealand and Ireland, and. India were beaten by Australia in the final.
First FC hundred for Musheer Khan 🔥
He has smashed an important century for Mumbai in the quarter-final of the Ranji Trophy 👏#MusheerKhan #SarfarazKhan #Mumbai #RanjiTrophy #Cricket pic.twitter.com/PictVBTqSI
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) February 23, 2024
It has been a proud few months for the Khan clan. Both Musheer and Sarfaraz have risen through the ranks, with the older sibling making two centuries for India A before winning a call-up to the Test squad, and then impressing with two half-centuries on debut. He was run out in the first innings and unbeaten in the second, meaning he is yet to be dismissed by a bowler. Sarfaraz pushed his first-class average above 70 in the course of the innings. Musheer’s figure, at this early stage, stands at 44.80.
