'He is watching, I have to impress sir today' - Musheer Khan credits Sachin Tendulkar as motivation behind Ranji Final century

The Ranji Trophy 2024 final between Mumbai and Vidharbha saw a wonderful display of talent from Mumbai's young batting sensation, Musheer Khan. Cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar who was present at the Wankhede Stadium proved to be a source of inspiration for the young Mumbai batter.

At just 19 years old, Musheer showcased maturity by scoring a patient 136, steering Mumbai towards a commanding position against Vidarbha. Reflecting on his innings, Musheer revealed that initially, he was unaware that the legendary former India opener Sachin Tendulkar was in the stadium and was watching his knock from close quarters. It was not until after he had scored a half-century that he noticed on the giant screen that the 'God of Cricket' was enjoying his scintillating knock when it mattered the most. 

"I did not even know that Sachin sir was here, But when I was batting on 60, I saw him on the big screen and (thereon) I batted with the motivation that he is watching today and I have to impress sir," Musheer was quoted as saying by ESPN Cricinfo.

Also read: Mumbai's middle order leaves Vidarbha an Everest to climb at Wankhede

'I got to learn a lot during the partnerships' -  Musheer Khan

Musheer Khan has been a vital cog in Mumbai's Ranji campaign this season, scoring a double century against Baroda in the quarters and a crucial fifty versus Tamil Nadu in the semis. But his latest knock in the final took his performances to new heights. 

Musheer also credited the advice from seniors like Ajinkya Rahane and Shreyas Iyer which took the pressure off him. Besides, he also lauded Rahane for sticking around him to keep him going. Moreover, he revealed that his plan was to take the game deep and bat for long hours. Besides, on his natural attacking style of moving down the pitch to the bowlers, Musheer explained it was a calculated risk coming from regular practice. The youngster also thanked his brother Sarfaraz Khan for backing him after a failure in the first innings. 

"I got to learn a lot during the partnerships, It is a matter of pride for me that I got to bat with two Test players, it becomes easier for me too. Everyone on their team was trying to get Ajju dada (Ajinkya Rahane) out and it became easier for me. Me and Iyer had a good partnership, we communicated well and (Iyer) bhai was insisting that we have to bat for a long period and take the game as far as we can," he added.

"Risk is there in everything. There is risk in defending too - what if there is a bat-pad situation to get out? But I have a lot of confidence with it; I have done a lot of preparation and practice by moving in the front. "I had spoken with bhai earlier and he told me that this is a good opportunity for me in the final, with everyone watching. If I would make runs here, it would be better for me in the future," Musheer concluded.

Also Read: Rohit Sharma marks his presence during Ranji Trophy 2024 Final

Currently, Vidarbha have a daunting task in front of them as they need more than 528 runs to win this contest and lift the Ranji title. Mumbai who is one of the most successful teams in the tournament will be looking to add one trophy to their cabinet.