Rohit Sharma was dismissed cheaply in his comeback Ranji match – here's all you need to know about Umar Nazir, the J&K quick who sent him back early in Mumbai.
Ahead of Mumbai's first Ranji game of the year, most of the focus was on the return of Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal, with opener Ayush Mhatre being left out to accommodate the duo. India's incumbent Test openers, Rohit and Yashasvi both had a forgettable outing, falling cheaply in Mumbai's dramatic top-order collapse.
Rohit was dismissed by a short ball, failing to execute the pull properly and ending up top-edging a delivery to mid-off. He was picked by Nazir, standing tall at 6'4'', made his first-class debut in 2013/14, against Assam, where he was given the new ball.
Nazir shines in latest Ranji round
Opening the bowling alongside Auqib Nabi, Nazir first saw the back of Rohit. The 37-year-old shaped for a pull, but only managed a top-edge, with the ball ballooning to mid-off. Nazir also took the wickets of Hardik Tamore, skipper Ajinkya Rahane, and later Shivam Dube, finishing with 11-2-41-4, as Mumbai folded for 120.
The delivery to dismiss Rahane was particularly impressive, cutting through and rattling his middle stump.
Nazir later told the Indian Expressthat he's a big fan of Rohit Sharma, and that's the reason why he did not celebrate his wicket.
Where has Nazir been all this time?
Born in Pulwama, J&K, Nazir has played 57 first-class matches consistently since his debut in 2013. His standout seasons came in 2018/19 and 2019/20, where he picked up a combined 54 wickets including three five-wicket hauls. The last two seasons have also seen him average an identical 23.28; this year, he has taken 11 wickets at 9.81.
Nazir emerged onto the scene with performances in the 2010/11 Vinoo Mankad Trophy for J&K U19s, finishing with the most wickets for his team (8 @ 16.62). He then took 24 wickets @ 26 in the 2011/12 Cooch Behar Trophy, again the most for his team.
He also spearheads an academy, the Umar Nazir Cricket Academy, in Waga, Pulwama.
What do his white-ball stats look like?
He's played 36 List A matches and 24 T20s, averaging 29.12 in the 50-over format and 19.40 in 20-over matches. His economy stands at 7.16 in T20s, but he hasn't played either format since 2021. He is also said to have been a nets bowler for multiple IPL teams.
What's next for Nazir?
Aged 31, Nazir has been a tireless domestic workhorse for years. While India honours might seem too far away, he would have gained the interest of IPL teams all around. While he hasn't played any T20s of late, his height and speed, as well as his recent performances against seasoned players, could make him an exciting prospect, potentially as a short-term injury replacement, if a spot opens up during IPL 2025.
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