By Zainab Shafiq 
The pace and bounce of Jammu and Kashmir pacer Umar Nazir Mir, on Thursday, commanded headlines in the ongoing Ranji Trophy match against Mumbai. He dismissed Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, and Shivam Dube; those were Indian cricketing heavyweights that the 31-year-old experience had sent packing, leaving Mumbai searching for a hold of the game.
Umar Nazir Mir’s excellent spell started with the prized wicket of Rohit Sharma, who scored only three runs as he misjudged a short-pitched delivery. He then clean-bowled Ajinkya Rahane for 12, which reflected his ability to trouble even the most experienced batters. His third victim, Shivam Dube, was caught by Kanhaiya Wadhawan for a duck. Mir’s fiery performance had kept the batting order of Mumbai on the back foot throughout the innings.
Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal Fail in Domestic Cricket Return
The much-awaited return of Indian captain Rohit Sharma and his opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal to domestic cricket was a disappointment. Both the batters, who were playing for defending champions Mumbai, failed to make an impact at the crease. Jaiswal was dismissed for just four runs, trapped leg-before by Jammu and Kashmir pacer Aaqib Nabi, who exploited the fresh pitch at the BKC Ground to great effect.
Rohit’s outing also ended early as he tried to play a delivery on the on-side but was caught at mid-off by Jammu and Kashmir captain Paras Dogra. That was the seventh wicket and it was becoming increasingly difficult for Mumbai to score runs.
Umar Nazir Mir’s Consistent Domestic Record
Since his debut in first-class cricket in 2013, Umar Nazir Mir has been a regular performer for Jammu and Kashmir. Before this game, he had taken 138 wickets in 57 first-class matches, of which six were five-wicket hauls. In List A cricket, Mir has taken 54 wickets, while he has 32 wickets in T20 matches.
Mir’s first-class best figures were during the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy season at Services in Srinagar, where he took 6/53. During the ongoing season, Mir has taken 15 wickets in three games, with his 4/41 against Mumbai being exceptional.
IPL Aspirations and Future Prospects
Umar Nazir Mir, although yet to bag an IPL contract, is certainly one with great potential. He has worked as a net bowler for Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals and had the chance to train with some of the top coaches and players. Mir is definitely in a good run and has the prospects of a great future in franchise cricket.
Treading the field as a towering 6 feet 4 inches frame for Pulwama, Umar Nazir Mir continues to form the backbone of Jammu and Kashmir’s cricketing setup, and his run-up pace has brought much-needed zip for the team into his game, particularly in the latter phase of the season.