Wasim Jaffer's emotional exit from Mumbai cricket

Wasim Jaffer’s emotional exit from Mumbai cricket: Wasim Jaffer, the man who ruled Mumbai’s domestic cricket for more than the last two decades, is moving over to Vidarbha from this season of Ranji Trophy. The decision came earlier this year when the veteran batsman decided to shift to Vidarbha team for upcoming season 2015-2016.

A year or two back it was almost impossible to imagine Mumbai’s batting line-up without the gritty Jaffer. He batted in the top order for most part and scored big every time he walked out. For the statistics, Jaffer played 31 Tests for India and has 1944 runs to his credit at an average of 34 with 5 centuries (including 2 double tons) and 11 fifties.

The gutsy 37-year-old is best known for his unmatched tally of runs in domestic cricket. Jaffer has scored over 10,000 runs for Mumbai in Ranji matches. He debuted for team India in the year 2000 managing just 46 runs in his first two Tests. This immediately led to his exile from the side. However, his streak of good and consistence performances continued at the domestic level making him indispensable for the Mumbai team.

Jaffer – Mumbai and Vidarbha:

In a press conference yesterday, emotionally charged Jaffer said, “I will be known as Mumbai player wherever I play. It is a different feeling to leave Mumbai after playing here for so many years. Nineteen years is a long time. It is difficult to move on after playing at one place for almost two decades”. However, the elegant batsman also made it clear that he will continue playing and is not mulling about his retirement plan as yet.

It’s often surprising that how a batsman of such a caliber had to stay away from national team for most part of his career. But Jaffer sees it in a different perspective, “There were times earlier where despite scoring some 2000 runs in the season, I was ignored. But I don’t blame anyone,” he explained. The cricketer always took the challenges with a toast of courage. Probably, that’s the reason why the cricketer kept on hitting big knocks despite being overlooked by the national selectors.

The Mumbai farewell that did not happen:

Having seen the best and bad days of Mumbai cricket and other spheres of life, the classy opener deserved a farewell but the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) did not think it needed to show respect to the man who had fought for them, had led battles for them, had served their cricket with his efforts and sweat.

At the end of the day, Wasim Jaffer is happy with his association with Mumbai. He signed off the press conference yesterday saying he has no harsh feelings with anyone and is happy with the journey that he has travelled thux far.

Jaffer holds a lot of record in Ranji cricket. He is the highest scorer (10056) with 35 (most by any batsman) centuries and unarguably a true match winner for his team. Wasim Jaffer might not be the Sachin Tendulkar of world cricket, but he is definitely the Tendulkar of Mumbai cricket. Charismatic, consistent and a wonderful human being.

The Mumbai team, the young boys will definitely miss his elderly presence, when they are out under the sun facing a tough situation and have nobody to look upto, who has seen it happen before; if not the ones sitting inside the luxurious MCA office.

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