Umar Nazir Mir, a 31-year-old pacer from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), made headlines during the Ranji Trophy match against Mumbai on January 23, 2025. Mir’s exceptional performance saw him dismissing three prominent batsmen – Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane and Shivam Dube – leading to Mumbai’s early collapse in their innings.
Umar Nazir Mir: The rising star
Born on November 3, 1993, in Pulwama, J&K, Umar Mir stands tall at 6 feet 4 inches, making him one of the tallest fast bowlers in Indian domestic cricket. He made his debut for J&K in 2013 and has since established himself as a key player in their bowling lineup.
With a tally of 138 wickets in 57 first-class matches, Mir has garnered attention for his pace and bounce, which proved instrumental against Mumbai. His bowling spell began with a sensational delivery that caught Rohit off guard, dismissing him for just 3 runs. Following this breakthrough, he clean bowled veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane for 12 runs and then sent Shivam Dube back to the pavilion for a duck, caught by Kanhaiya Wadhawan. Mir’s relentless pressure on Mumbai’s top order was pivotal in restricting them to a meagre total of 120 in the first innings.
Mir’s best bowling performance in red-ball cricket is 6/53, which he recorded against Services last year. Inspired by Australian legend Glenn McGrath, Mir aspires to represent his national team, and his impressive performance against Mumbai suggests he is making a compelling case for selection.
Also READ: Hardik Pandya, Shaheen Afridi face off in epic heist-themed Champions Trophy 2025 promo
Fans and experts hail Umar Mir’s performance
The cricket community has reacted enthusiastically to Mir’s performance. Fans took to social media to express their admiration, with many calling for greater recognition of his talents. Comments such as “Umar Nazir Mir is a name we should watch out for!” reflect the growing interest in his career. Former cricketers have also praised Mir’s skill and composure on the field, noting that his ability to dismiss star batters like Rohit and Rahane is a testament to his capabilities as a bowler.
BRILLIANT 4 WICKET HAUL FOR UMAR NAZIR MIR AGAINST MUMBAI…!!
He takes the wickets of Rohit Sharma , Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Tomare and Shivam Dube.#ranjitrophy2025 #JammuAndKashmir #Mumbai pic.twitter.com/u2CvVq120r
— DEEP SINGH (@CrazyCricDeep) January 23, 2025
