Emotional Century Marks Mumbai's Fightback in Ranji Trophy
In a display of immense courage and skill, young Mumbai batsman Musheer Khan scored a heartfelt century on the opening day of Mumbai's Ranji Trophy match against Himachal Pradesh. The innings took on profound emotional significance as it came hours after the passing of his maternal uncle, who played a pivotal role in his cricketing development.
Tears Flow After Landmark Achievement
The moment Musheer reached his hundred with a single to midwicket off left-arm spinner Aryaman Dhaliwal, raw emotion overcame the young cricketer. After facing 143 deliveries, he leaped in the air in celebration, then removed his helmet to reveal tears streaming down his face. "I became emotional after hitting 100. So I cried a little," Musheer confessed after the day's play.
He dedicated the century to his uncle who had passed away on Saturday morning, the same day as the match. "First of all, this century has come after a long time. And the second thing is that my mother's brother died this morning. I have been with him since childhood. I have played with him. So I was feeling a little weird," the batsman explained.
Mumbai's Recovery Through Youth and Experience
Mumbai found themselves in early trouble at 73 for 4 before Musheer combined with veteran batsman Siddhesh Lad in a rescue act worth 157 runs for the fifth wicket. While Musheer, at 20, represents Mumbai's future, the 33-year-old Lad brought his experience of nearly 80 First-Class games to the partnership.
The day began with anticipation focused on Musheer's brother Sarfaraz Khan, but the Test-capped batsman endured another disappointing outing, making only 16 runs off 57 balls before falling lbw to fast bowler Vaibhav Arora.
Technical Mastery Under Pressure
On a surface that offered early assistance to bowlers before easing out later, Musheer displayed remarkable technique and temperament against a disciplined Himachal Pradesh attack. The HP fast bowling trio of Vaibhav Arora, Vipin Sharma, and Arpit Guleria consistently tested the batsmen, beating the bat regularly and maintaining tight control over the scoring rate.
Musheer showed exceptional application, trusting his defense against straight deliveries and occasionally charging down the pitch to negate movement. His approach against the twin left-arm spin threat of Mayank Dagar and Aryaman Dhaliwal was particularly impressive, using both paddle and conventional sweeps effectively.
The young batsman faced a scary moment when on 88, a rising delivery from Guleria struck him on the side of his helmet, requiring physio's attention. However, this interruption didn't affect his concentration as he reached his well-deserved century shortly after.
Lad Proves His 'Crisis Man' Reputation
Siddhesh Lad lived up to his reputation as Mumbai's 'crisis man' with an unbeaten century of his own, scoring 100 not out off 207 balls. His ability to thrive under pressure and rescue Mumbai from precarious positions was on full display once again.
Brief Scores: Mumbai 289/5 in 88 overs (Musheer Khan 112, Siddhesh Lad 100 not out; Arpit Guleria 2/56) vs Himachal Pradesh at the Sharad Pawar Bandra-Kurla Complex ground in Mumbai on Saturday, November 8, 2025.
