Duleep trophy 2024: ‘I was Trying To Play Close To My Body To Counter Swing And Cut’, Says Centurion Musheer Khan

Bengaluru: After underscoring his talent with a sturdy hundred, Musheer Khan on Thursday said he centred his batting strategy around playing with regards to the body to nullify the pronounced movement of the ball in overcast conditions.

Musheer’s unbeaten One zero five rescued India B after India A bowlers reduced them to ninety four for seven on the first day of the Duleep Trophy match on the Chinnaswamy Stadium. India B finished the day at 202 for seven.

“I desired to play as many balls as imaginable without thinking an excessive amount of about runs. I desired to bat the whole day, and I was taking it session by session. The ball became swinging and cutting after I came to bat,” Musheer said within the post-day press meet.

“So, I was taking a look to play the ball as with regards to my body as imaginable, and became taking a look to steer clear of those risky shots. I knew runs would at last come,” he added.

But Musheer became not alone in his rescue mission as late-order batter Navdeep Saini helped him add 108 runs for the unbroken eighth wicket alliance.

“When wickets were falling on the opposite end, I told myself to play intelligently and seek for a partnership. Then Saini bhai gave me lots of self belief saying he'll play whether it truly is two balls or six balls in an over, and just keep faith in him.

“He became also ready to compare my thinking and approach while batting. But on the whole, I was taking a look to defend the first three or four balls after which take a single,” he elaborated.

Every other salient feature of his batting became the style he handled Kuldeep Yadav as five of his 10 fours came off the left-arm wrist spinner, including two successive biffs down the V.

Musheer said conversations with senior batters in his side like Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant helped him prepare against Kuldeep.

“It be the 2d time I am playing Kuldeep bhai. We have now got got some experienced players in our side like Shubman bhai and Rishabh bhai who told me which of Kuldeep bhai’s balls might be effective and off which of them I may score runs. But once I got set, batting became easy on this wicket,” said Musheer.

The 19-year-old Mumbaikar also termed the opportunity to play in Duleep Trophy as a fine learning experience.

“It be a fine learning experience for me as there are various senior players in my team and in opposition.

“I am staring on the style they believe, their self belief and how they prepare for a tradition session and a match,” he added.