Umar Nazir Mir had a mix of emotions when he dismissed India captain Rohit Sharma. It was a dream come true for the Jammu and Kashmir pacer, who delivered an impressive spell of 4/41 on the first day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy in Mumbai. Getting Rohit’s wicket was particularly special since it was his first Ranji Trophy game since 2015.

Even though it was a big moment, Umar, who openly admires Rohit, chose not to celebrate. “Honestly, I didn’t celebrate because I’m a fan of Rohit Sharma. I know how great he is, even though I got him out. I really look up to him,” he shared after the match.

The 31-year-old bowler took full advantage of the fresh, damp pitch, skillfully moving the ball and creating extra bounce. Rohit, struggling to get going, fell to a delivery that jumped up just before a good length, leading to a soft dismissal for just 3 runs off 19 balls.

“Getting an international player out is always a big deal. The pitch had some assistance, and I focused on bowling in the right spots. Rohit Sharma is a huge name, and taking his wicket was crucial for us and for me personally,” Umar explained.

Umar's standout performance

The bowler had a fantastic spell, taking down Mumbai's captain Ajinkya Rahane (12), Shivam Dube (0), and Hardik Tamore (7), which really put the defending champions in a tough spot. When talking about his performance, Umar pointed out that consistency and control were crucial. “A good ball is a good ball against any player; you don’t focus on who they are. Getting Rohit Sharma out is a big deal, and I’m really happy about it,” he shared.

Umar, who was part of the J&K team that made headlines by beating Mumbai at Wankhede Stadium ten years ago, felt proud to face such a talented lineup. “Even if we win this match, it would be a proud moment since India’s captain is on the other side,” he mentioned.

Despite the challenge of bowling to a Mumbai team filled with Indian stars like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, and Shardul Thakur, Umar kept his cool. “I went to bed at 10 PM last night and woke up around 7 AM feeling relaxed,” he said with a grin.

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