Musheer Khan Shines with Century in Duleep Trophy as Brother Sarfaraz Khan Cheers Him On

India B batter Musheer Khan put on a stellar performance on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy 2024, scoring an unbeaten century against India A. Batting at number three, the 19-year-old dug deep to register an unbeaten 105, helping his team recover from a difficult position. His celebration after reaching the milestone was filled with passion, but it was the sight of his elder brother, Sarfaraz Khan, standing and applauding, that captured the hearts of fans. The video of the moment quickly went viral on social media.

A Memorable Century Under Tough Conditions

Musheer walked to the crease early, in the 14th over, after India B had lost opener Abhimanyu Easwaran. The conditions were challenging, with overcast skies providing India A's pacers with swing and movement. Easwaran’s dismissal, courtesy of a brilliant diving catch by Dhruv Jurel off Avesh Khan, left India B reeling. But Musheer, playing his debut Duleep Trophy match, displayed maturity beyond his years.

Despite the bounce and carry from the bowlers, Musheer skillfully tackled the India A attack. His unconventional approach, walking down the pitch to counter the movement, proved effective. He blended elegance and power with an exquisite on-drive off Avesh Khan and powerful sixes against spinner Tanush Kotian to propel himself into the 90s.

A Crucial Partnership with Navdeep Saini

India B found themselves in deep trouble at 94 for seven, but Musheer found support from Navdeep Saini (29*), and together they stitched a vital 108-run partnership for the eighth wicket. Saini's resilience helped provide the necessary stability, as India A’s bowlers lost their edge in the final session.

Musheer reached his century off 205 balls with a single off Kuldeep Yadav, celebrating with raw emotion. It was a fitting reward for his composed knock under pressure, as he helped India B reach 202 for seven by the close of play.

Brotherly Support from Sarfaraz Khan

One of the most heartwarming moments of the day was when Musheer’s brother, Sarfaraz Khan, an India player himself, stood up to cheer for his younger sibling. Sarfaraz’s emotional applause reflected the pride he felt watching Musheer’s remarkable innings. The video of Sarfaraz clapping from the stands quickly went viral on social media, with fans lauding the brotherly bond between the two cricketers.

India B's Struggles and Redemption

Before Musheer and Saini's rescue act, several India B batters fell cheaply. Yashasvi Jaiswal looked good during his 30 but was undone by a rash shot, while Rishabh Pant’s much-anticipated return to red-ball cricket lasted only 10 balls before he was dismissed for a duck. The rest of the batting lineup crumbled, with careless shot selection and disciplined bowling from India A causing a major collapse.