'The standout thing is...': Former KKR Coach Backs Musheer Khan to Play for India

Former India wicketkeeper and ex- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) assistant coach Vijay Dahiya has lavished praise on young batter Musheer Khan, backing him to be a future asset for the Indian cricket team. Dahiya, who has closely followed the emerging talent, highlighted Musheer’s impressive mindset as a key factor that sets him apart from other young cricketers.

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Vijay Dahiya backs Musheer Khan to play for India

Musheer Khan turned heads with a remarkable innings of 181 for India B in the ongoing Duleep Trophy 2024 match against India A at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. His knock came at a crucial time, rescuing his side from a precarious position of 94/7. His 205-run partnership with Navdeep Saini for the eighth wicket helped India B post a competitive first-innings total of 321.

Speaking about the 18-year-old batter’s potential, Dahiya emphasized Musheer’s mental toughness, which he believes is the standout quality that could pave the way for his future success.

“What makes Musheer different is his mindset, which is very strong. I can't predict the future but if he keeps on scoring runs consistently, he could be a very good option for the Indian team,” Dahiya told PTI videos.

“The standout thing about his batting is his consistency. He started off from where he left the last season. He scored runs in the Ranji Trophy semifinal and final and then a hundred on the opening day of domestic cricket in 2024,” Dahiya said.

“Musheer started off as a left-arm spinner and eventually his transformation to batting reflects that, “Agar aap mehnat se kisi cheez ke peeche pad jaaye, shiddat se kisi cheez ke peeche pad jaaye to wo zarur milti hai (if you work hard for something, you will get it eventually”, he said.

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Dahiya, who is the head coach of Purani Dilli 6 in the ongoing Delhi Premier League, said interacting with seniors like Rishabh Pant and Ishant Sharma was a learning experience for budding talents in the DPL.

“ Rishabh Pant played just a match but the time he spent with boys in the hotel and in the practice motivated them.

“Ishant attended all the practice sessions and spent time with each of the boys. Unfortunately, he couldn't play due to an injury,” he said.

“All the boys praised Rishabh and Ishant because they never let them feel inferior to them. Instead, they felt a sense of belongingness and it calmed their nerves,” he added.

(With PTI inputs)