Star Mumbai batter could miss Ranji Trophy 2024-25 clash against Jammu & Kashmir: Reports

Key Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan is unlikely to feature in the team's Ranji Trophy 2024-25 clash against Jammu & Kashmir, which starts on January 23. The right-handed batter is said to have suffered a minor hairline fracture in the ribs during India's Test tour of Australia.

Mumbai are currently third in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 points table in Group A, with 22 points. They played five matches in the first leg of the domestic tournament, winning three games and losing one, while one match ended in a draw. They will kick off the second leg against J & K.

According to a report in the Times of India, Sarfaraz is set to miss the clash against Jammu & Kashmir owing to the injury he suffered during Team India's 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) campaign. A source was quoted as telling TOI:

"He suffered the injury while fielding during practice just a couple of days before the Indian team left Australia. After coming back to India, a scan showed that he had sustained a minor rib fracture, and he was advised a three-week complete rest by the doctor. He is unlikely to play for Mumbai in their Ranji match against J&K. In fact, he could miss the entire league stage of the tournament, and be only fit by the knockouts."

Sarfaraz did not get to play a single match during Team India's BGT 2024-25 campaign even as the visitors went down 3-1. The 27-year-old has featured in six Tests so far, scoring 371 runs at an average of 37.10, with one ton and three fifties.

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Sarfaraz Khan has been one of Mumbai's standout batters in domestic cricket

Having made his first-class debut in December 2014, Sarfaraz has featured in 54 first-class matches so far and has scored 4,593 runs at an excellent average of 65.61, with 16 hundreds and 14 fifties to his credit.

The right-handed batter was Player of the Match for his unbeaten 222 off 286 balls in the Irani Trophy clash between Mumbai and the Rest of India in October this year. His terrific knock featured 25 fours and four sixes as Mumbai lifted the Iran Cup based on having taken the first-innings lead.