Mumbai, Dec 22: Mumbai Ranji captain Wasim Jaffer on Thursday overtook Amol Muzumdar’s record to become the highest run-scorer in the Ranji Trophy in the ongoing game against Punjab.
“He is a modern day great in domestic cricket,” Muzumdar exclaimed in the commentary box as soon as an on-drive from Jaffer crashed through the on-side boundary rope to set the new record.
Excerpts:
On missing out on a spot in the Indian team
Scoring in this format [is important] because I want to play for India […] I will keep trying to score as many runs as possible in the remaining [part of the] season and the coming season and see if I can get a another look in.
On who he would like to dedicate his achievement to
I will dedicate it to myself because I have scored all the runs. But a lot of people have helped me throughout my career, many players and many coaches at various times. I have been playing for Mumbai since [the] Under -16 [level]. I have played for National Cricket Club and learnt a lot from there; the Under- 16 coaches and other coaches have all helped me a lot.
On how he felt after achieving the feat
I am very happy. My hard work over a period of time [has been rewarded]. I have got it after playing 100 matches so I am really proud that I could play for Mumbai for so many years. I think I was very fortunate that I could play alongside many great players [and] got the opportunity to play under very good coaches. I think I am very fortunate and feel very proud.
On what the record means to him
I [have been] able to play Ranji Trophy [cricket] for a long period. I remember going into my second Ranji game in Saurashtra. I knew in my mind if I didn’t score runs in that game I would be out of the team; I got a triple-hundred in that game. My journey started there so I feel very fortunate, very lucky to be around for that long. Personally [I am] very satisfied [that] I could achieve this target. I don’t know how good I was but I have tried giving my best all the time.
On his most memorable innings till date
I think the Ranji Trophy final in 2003 against Tamil Nadu when I had made 98 at Wankhede and we won the Ranji Trophy. Personally I think winning the Ranji Trophy was very important for me in my career; I have won the Ranji Trophy seven times [as a part of the team]; that is the proudest [achievement] for me. There are many cricketers who finish their careers without winning the Ranji Trophy. Playing for Mumbai I was lucky I could achieve that much. I have won [the] Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Irani Trophy, so in a way I feel very fortunate to play for Mumbai.
On scoring all his runs for Mumbai
Yes, the last three or four seasons I have been getting some [offers]. Some states have asked me to move and play there but I thought this was not the time. I am leading Mumbai and I need to be here [at] this time. Mumbai is in a rebuilding phase, [there are a] lot of youngsters around and I feel very happy [to offer] this service to Mumbai.
On his best season
Definitely my first season when I started my first-class career. I was very young and didn’t know what first-class cricket was like. I got my triple-hundred and everything was so smooth. After that probably my first season as captain [was special]; when we won the Ranji Trophy and I got 1200 or 1300 runs in that Ranji season alone. I think those are probably the two best seasons.
On the best bowler he has faced in domestic cricket
Zaheer [Khan], when he used to play for Baroda, and [L] Balaji, probably.
On the innings today
I think it was a good innings; I would have been happy if I would have got a hundred, without doubt. We were two batsmen down, Sushant [Marathe] and Avishkar [Salvi ] also [due to injury]. We were zero for [the loss of] two wickets at the start of our innings so we needed to [come good] and score those runs without losing too many wickets and I thought everybody chipped in. We had partnerships for every wicket so in a way we had good game.
On whether this was the most special moment in his career
No, I think winning the Ranji Trophy on seven occasions, and, personally, winning two as captain was more satisfying. The last one in Mysore was probably the best final that I have played in, so those are the best moments. Winning the Ranji Trophy is the ultimate [thing]. Winning in Mysore against Bangalore, away from home, was special.
On Amol Muzumdar, the previous highest Ranji run-getter
I think Amol [Muzumdar] was a great servant [of the game]. I’ve played a lot of times with him, shared […] the dressing room for a long time. He served Mumbai for long so I am happy in a way but sad for him.
On his next goal
The immediate goal is to win the Ranji Trophy, without a doubt. We have had a good season so far but the knockouts are a different ball game. Hopefully the unavailable players [like] Dhawal [Kulkarni] and Abhishek [Nayar] will be there.
On whether he would have preferred to have Amol Muzumdar in the side when he got to the landmark
Yes, he wanted to play for Mumbai but because of the technical rule [regarding] somebody who has played for another state – he must have a cooling [off] period for one season – he is probably not playing. But he is good enough to share the dressing room with, there is no doubt about it. I don’t know if he still wants to play the next season or not [but] has been a great servant of Mumbai cricket.
On changes that can help domestic cricket
We have talked a lot about sporting wickets, that’s on of the things. The quality of Indian cricket would improve if we played on good tracks; we would then get to see some good bowlers and batsmen coming up.
On the future of Mumbai cricket
This is a transition phase for Mumbai. A lot of players are going to play for India – like Rohit [Sharma] and Ajinkya [Rahane]. They won’t be available so these are good opportunities for the youngsters to come in and cement their place. Somebody like Surya [Kumar Yadav] has played really well this season but he still has to mature. He plays a lot of shots but over a period of time he will learn; there is [real] quality in him. There is Kaustubh Pawar; he has come in and played some valuable knocks. Sushant Marathe has shown that he can play [too]. All these players need to cement their place while the star players are not available.
