With a point to prove after being ‘rested’ for J&K’s Ranji Trophy opener against Madhya Pradesh, Umar Nazir found an unlikely mentor in BCCI president Mithun Manhas.
During breaks in the game against Madhya Pradesh, Manhas watched the tall pacer bowl in the nets, even placing a stump behind him to check his landing and guard against overstepping. Manhas’s long association with J&K brought out the cricketer in him as he stepped in to help Nazir fine-tune his run-up.
Mithun Manhas could be seen working with Umar Nazir in the nets.
| Photo Credit:
Wasaaf Jeelani
Mithun Manhas could be seen working with Umar Nazir in the nets.
| Photo Credit:
Wasaaf Jeelani
Nazir, who claimed five wickets in the Irani Cup earlier this month, is set to return in J&K’s crucial fixture against Vidarbha later this week, with Auqib Nabi joining the India ‘A’ squad for the tour of New Zealand.
J&K will need the pacer to step up after struggling to make inroads at crucial moments against Madhya Pradesh. The batting, too, failed to show the resolve needed to keep the defending champion in the contest.
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Captain Paras Dogra acknowledged that the team had fallen short in both departments. With Yudhvir Singh unfit, J&K’s options have been limited, while Nasir Lone has bowled just 16 overs.
The bigger concern remains the batting. J&K has struggled to build partnerships, leaving the middle-order with too much to do. Dogra believes the openers must lead the recovery and provide a platform for the rest.
“Our batting has to stand up. We have not been up to the mark and have failed to build partnerships. The bowlers have been performing fairly well, both in the Irani Cup and in the Ranji Trophy,” he told Sportstar. “We hope Nazir will be fresh and ready for the next game.”
For Nazir, the Vidarbha fixture offers a chance to turn disappointment into opportunity. If selected, he will be keen to exploit the conditions and add penetration to an attack that struggled against Madhya Pradesh.
J&K, at least, avoided conceding all six points in the opener. But with the batting yet to fire and the pace attack searching for answers, the defending champion has plenty to address before its next outing.
Published on Oct 15, 2026
