Meet Umar Nazir Mir, 6-foot-4 tall J&K pacer who ruined Rohit Sharma's much anticipated Ranji Trophy return

Rohit Sharma's return to the Ranji Trophy did not go as planned, as he was dismissed for 3 runs against Jammu & Kashmir on January 23 at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy in Mumbai. The India skipper attempted to draw a delivery from Umar Nazir Mir, but was caught in the circle, prompting his hasty exit from the crease.

Umar Nazir Mir proved to be a formidable opponent, capturing the wickets of Ajinkya Rahane and Hardik Tamore while dismissing Shivam Dube for a duck. This flurry of wickets put Mumbai in a difficult situation at 41/5 after just 14.5 overs. Umar finished the day with outstanding statistics of 4/41 in 11 overs, contributing to Mumbai's overall score of only 120 runs.

@itsmihir412 pic.twitter.com/PXawxTr7Wi

— stuud (@stuud18) January 23, 2025

This was Umar's seventh four-wicket haul in his first-class career, showcasing his ability to disturb the opposition's top order. Umar has established himself as a vital performer for Jammu and Kashmir, taking 15 wickets in three matches this Ranji Trophy season, with an average of 9.93 and an economy rate of 2.93. His top performance thus far has been his 6/53 versus Services, which cemented his status as a talented and influential bowler in the competition.

Who is Umar Nazir Mir?

Umar is from the Pulwama area of South Kashmir and comes from a middle-class family; his father works as a lumber dealer. According to CricketNext, Umar's road to first-class cricket has been aided by his father's support, which stems from his own experiences playing 'mohalla' cricket.

This fast bowler's career has not been simple, as he has represented his state in a variety of national championships. This covers a difficult moment during the closure in Jammu and Kashmir following the repeal of Article 370. Despite the difficulties in communicating with his family owing to the internet outage, Umar stayed devoted to his sport and even participated in training camps organized by renowned India bowler Irfan Pathan, as reported by Indian Express.

As a right-arm pacer, Umar has proven his abilities in all three forms, taking 138 wickets at an average of 29.12 in 57 first-class matches. In List-A cricket, he has 54 wickets in 36 games and 32 wickets in 20 T20 outings.

Although Umar's ambition of playing for the Indian team has yet to come true, he has taken use of his opportunities, providing remarkable performances against important players such as Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, and emerging sensation Hardik Tomore.

As Umar prepares for the remainder of this match against Mumbai and future innings, this game offers a significant chance for him to display his abilities and make a memorable impact against tough opponents.

Also read| Rohit Sharma falters on Ranji Trophy return for Mumbai; Shubman Gill, Rishbah Pant register single-digit scores