Mumbai's rising star Musheer Khan stressed that he was not disappointed that he didn’t get an Indian Premier League (IPL) deal for the upcoming IPL 2024, starting on March 22.
While securing an IPL contract is often a dream come true for many cricketers, Musheer sees a silver lining in going unsold during last year's player auction. The Ranji Trophy sensation said that he can utilize this time to understand the nuances of the T20 format.
The 19-year-old batter, who recently won the Ranji Trophy 2024 with Mumbai, remains optimistic about leaving his mark in the IPL when the time is right.
Musheer told PTI Video: “My name is not in the IPL. But I don't feel disappointed. My father tells me to play Test cricket and play for Team India. IPL will eventually happen, if not today then tomorrow.”
The youngster continued, “It's good that I got another year to prepare for the IPL. I will understand T20 cricket more, and how I should prepare for this format.”
Musheer said that he is really inspired by his elder brother Sarfaraz Khan, who made his India debut in the third Test against England at Rajkot last month.
He noted, “I am really inspired by my brother because of his dedication and the way he bats. Our batting style is similar. He told me before the game (Ranji final) to think of it as a normal match and not to take too much pressure. From outside, it may feel like a normal match but on the field, we feel pressure on the field. He told me to back my skills and follow the process.”
Speaking about Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy win, Musheer said: “It's a matter of pride that we have amassed 42 titles. Many great players have played here (for Mumbai). I feel very proud that I have played for Mumbai and won a championship. I also want to thank the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) and congratulate them because they have provided us with a lot of support. I hope they continue to back us in the same way.”
The right-handed batter also lauded Dhawal Kulkarni, who retired from the game after the Ranji Trophy final.
He said, “The support he has given to Mumbai cricket, the things he has done for Mumbai, it's incredible. The speech he gave ahead of the final was a real motivation for all of us.”
Musheer signed off by saying, “It was his last match. We were emotional and we wanted to win the trophy as a gift to Dhawal bhai. We wanted him to leave happily. He took the last wicket (of Vidarbha) of the match and everything came out perfectly.”
(With PTI Inputs)
