Mukesh Kumar produced a match-winning bowling spell as Rest of India defeated Jammu and Kashmir by 167 runs to lift the Irani Cup. But one of the biggest talking points of the victory came just before Mukesh dismissed Shubham Pundir & J&K captain Paras Dogra — when he had a long discussion with Sarfaraz Khan to get one more over.
Rest of India had been under serious pressure earlier in the match. They were bowled out for 237 in the first innings before Jammu and Kashmir responded with 278, taking a 41-run lead. J&K had once been struggling at 37/4, but Dogra played a crucial knock of 75 and helped his team recover.
Rest of India responded strongly in their second innings. Smaran Ravichandran scored 135 as they made 319, setting Jammu and Kashmir a target of 279.
Mukesh Kumar’s Fight With Sarfaraz Khan for One More Over
The most interesting moment came during Jammu and Kashmir’s chase.
Mukesh hadn’t taken any wicket and was apparently set to be taken out of the attack. During the break, however, he had a long discussion with Sarfaraz Khan. Mukesh wanted to continue bowling because he felt the conditions were still helping him.
He kept asking for one more over. It was more of an animated, friendly argument than a serious confrontation, but Mukesh was determined to get another chance with the ball.
Mukesh eventually got the extra over he wanted — and immediately showed why he had fought for it.
On the 4th ball he got the wicket of Shubham Pundir, and on very next delivery he bowled J&K captain Paras Dogra for a duck.
That was a huge wicket considering what Dogra had done in the first innings. When J&K were struggling at 37/4, the experienced batter had scored 75 from 143 balls and played a major role in taking his side to a first-innings lead.
Removing him for zero in the second innings therefore took away one of J&K’s biggest hopes of chasing the target.
Mukesh Kumar Finishes With 6/33
Mukesh did not stop with Dogra’s wicket.
He completely dismantled the Jammu and Kashmir batting order and finished with outstanding figures of 6/33 from 10.4 overs.
J&K were eventually bowled out for just 111 in 28.4 overs while chasing 279, handing Rest of India a massive 167-run victory and the Irani Cup.
The incident with Sarfaraz therefore became much more than a funny on-field discussion. Mukesh believed the pitch was still helping him, fought for another over and immediately delivered a crucial breakthrough.
One extra over was all he wanted. The wicket of Paras Dogra followed immediately, and Mukesh went on to finish the job with a six-wicket haul.
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