LUCKNOW: Shams Mulani was a bit disappointed when he missed out on the first round of the Duleep Trophy. But once he got an opportunity, he made sure he left an impression. In his first match representing India A, he top-scored for them with 89 and took four wickets in the match to set up their win over India D. In the next match against India C, he scored a crucial 44 and took three wickets.
Speaking after Day Four of the Irani Cup, Mulani said selection was “not in his hands.”
“I know that at the right time, I’ll get my opportunity, which I did (in the last two Duleep matches).I try to score as many runs as possible and take wickets whenever I get those opportunities. We Mumbaikars know the importance of grabbing those opportunities. And that’s what is in our blood. That’s how we’ve played. So, I’m a bit disappointed, but that’s totally fine. It’s part and parcel of the game. Sometimes you get picked, sometimes you don’t,” said Mulani, who took two crucial wickets of Abhimanyu Easwaran and Dhruv Jurel on Friday.Mulani has been among the most consistent performers on the domestic circuit, taking 35-plus wickets and scoring 300-plus runs in the last three Ranji Trophy seasons. Last season, he picked 35 wickets and scored 353 runs. In 2022-23 his numbers were 46 wickets and 406 runs and in 2021-22, he had 45 scalps and 321 runs to his credit.
While he knows that he is inching closer towards the national cap, the 27-year-old is focused on his performance. “My target always is to help the team win. Personal milestones will come and go, but the more important thing is the team’s win. Personally, I would like to do what I am continuing to do for the past three seasons where I’ve been picking up wickets and scoring runs. I must be ready for whatever opportunity I get. For that, I need to score runs and take wickets-…just keep knocking on the door,” said Mulani.