Wasim Jaffer scales Mount 10000

Wasim Jaffer scales Mount 10000: Scoring runs is a passion for any batsman. If a batsman reaches a landmark it’s a moment of celebration.

One such moment came today (8^th November, 2015), Day 2 in the Ranji Trophy 2015-16, game between Bengal and Vidarbha, being played at Jadavpur University Second Campus Ground in Salt Lake, Kolkata.

The Vidarbha opener, Wasim Jaffer, created history by becoming the first ever batsman to cross the 10,000 run mark in the history of Ranji Trophy since its inception in 1934-35.

Playing in his 126^th game (196^th innings), Jaffer needed just 8 runs to reach the landmark at the start of this encounter. He now has a tally of 10,001 runs at an average of 58.14 with 35 centuries and 41 half-centuries in Ranji Trophy.

Winning the toss, Vidarbha, led by the former Tamil Nadu skipper and India discard, Subramaniam Badrinath, won the toss and elected to field.

Hosts Bengal went on to put up 334 runs on the board in their first innings with big contributions coming from Sudip Chatterjee (116, 30m, 200b, 14*4, 1*6), Abhimanyu Easwaran (58, 208m, 135b, 10*4) and Sayan Mondal (56, 223m, 146b, 8*4).

Akshay Wakhare (31-6-85-4) and Shrikant Wagh (24-6-53-3) were the prime wicket-takers for Viidarbha.

In their reply, Vidarbha opened their innings with Wasim Jaffer and Faiz Fazal. Jaffer reached the landmark when he scored 8 runs. This he achieved by a hit to the ropes with an elegant drive the Bengal seamer, Veer Pratap Singh, in the penultimate delivery of eighth over.

However, Jaffer could not play a long innings. He was consumed by the left arm spinner, Pragyan Ojha for just 9 runs (58m, 26b, 1*4).

Jaffer, who had, all along, played his cricket for Mumbai, took a transfer to Viidarbha in this edition of Ranji Trophy. He, alongwith Virender Sehwag and Pragyan Ojha, are the ‘big ticket’ transfers in this season.

Wasim made his First Class debut in 1996-97.

37-year old Jaffer is now the leading run-getter in Ranji Trophy (10,001), Duleep Trophy (2,545) and Irani Trophy (1,008).

Jaffer is followed by his former Mumbai team-mate, Amol Muzumdar (9,202 runs) – who is now retired – and Mithun Manhas (8,197 runs).

In total, Jaffer has .featured in 229 First Class games (378 innings) and has scored 17,088 runs with 314* as his individual best. He also has 51 centuries and 83 half-centuries to his credit.

Speaking to reporters on his achievement at day end, Jaffer said, “It’s a big moment for me to score 10,000 runs in one of the oldest and elite tournaments”.

“I always had the passion in me to play cricket. It’s never easy to play for so many years. I always had the belief in myself. It’s passion which keeps me going”.

“It’s not just about scoring runs… the more important challenge is how you can get better every day. I took it up as a challenge.”

With scores of 71 runs against Assam and 68 runs against the defending champions Karnataka, this old war-horse looks to ‘go big’ in this season.