If Sarfaraz Khan is a storm, his younger brother Musheer Khan is turning out to be a tsunami.
We all know how long Sarfaraz had to wait for his opportunity despite scoring heavily in domestic cricket. But when we talk about Musheer, the 21-year-old looks determined to leave no room for the selectors to ignore him.
And once again, Musheer Khan has shown why.
The youngster played a brilliant knock of 96 for West Zone against North Zone in the Duleep Trophy. More importantly, these runs came in the fourth innings when his team was chasing a difficult target of 287.
Musheer scored 96 from 126 balls with eight fours and two sixes. He missed his century by just four runs, but his innings was much bigger than the number itself.
Musheer Khan Stands Tall for West Zone
North Zone had scored 251 in the first innings before bowling West Zone out for 187. They then added 222 in their second innings, setting West Zone a target of 287.
Musheer was at the centre of West Zone’s chase.
He found good support from captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who scored 66 from 70 deliveries. Together, Musheer and Gaikwad added 111 runs for the fourth wicket and put West Zone in a strong position.
However, things changed quickly after Gaikwad was run out.
Musheer continued fighting, but Nishant Sindhu eventually dismissed him for 96. West Zone later slipped to 220/7 at stumps, still needing 67 runs to win.
That tells you how important Musheer was.
As long as he was there, West Zone had control over the chase. Once he departed, North Zone found their way back into the contest.
This Is Not Just About One Duleep Trophy Innings
The biggest reason we are talking about Musheer is that this is not his first impressive performance.
Before this match, the 21-year-old had already scored 1,162 runs in 17 first-class matches at an average of 46.48.
He had four centuries and four half-centuries to his name, including a highest score of 203 not out.
These numbers are impressive for such a young player.
Even in this match, Musheer showed two different sides of his batting. He scored 31 from 126 balls in the first innings when the situation required patience.
Then came the fourth innings.
This time, he scored 96 from 126 balls because the situation demanded a different approach.
That ability to understand the match situation is what makes Musheer special.
Heartbreak for Musheer Khan near the finish line, but what a heroic effort 💔🔥
Musheer Khan plays a masterclass knock under pressure—scoring 96 off 126 balls in the second innings during a tough 287-run chase against North Zone in Quarter Final 2 of the Duleep Trophy 2026 🏏… pic.twitter.com/Uti2UevSqc
— CricInformer (@CricInformer) August 25, 2026
Musheer Has One More Weapon – His Bowling
Now comes another important point.
Musheer Khan can bowl as well.
And this is one area where he can provide something extra compared to his elder brother Sarfaraz.
Musheer is a slow left-arm orthodox bowler and had already picked up 21 first-class wickets before this match. He also has a five-wicket haul at this level.
This all-round ability could become extremely important in his journey towards the Indian team.
If you are scoring runs and can also give your captain a useful bowling option, you naturally become more valuable to the team.
Musheer seems to understand that.
He has not left his bowling behind while developing himself as a batter. His batting remains his main strength, but his bowling gives him another angle.
And that is exactly why ignoring him could become difficult if he continues performing.
Sarfaraz Khan Had to Wait Despite Scoring Runs
The comparison with Sarfaraz Khan is obvious.
Sarfaraz kept scoring runs season after season in domestic cricket. His numbers were there for everyone to see, but the India call-up kept getting delayed.
Fitness was also discussed during that period.
Sarfaraz worked on his fitness and continued scoring runs, but he still had to wait for his opportunity.
For any domestic player, that journey is a lesson.
You can score runs, you can dominate domestic cricket, but competition for a place in the Indian team is so high that sometimes even consistent performances don’t guarantee immediate selection.
Musheer has seen his elder brother go through that entire journey from very close.
And perhaps that is helping him prepare himself differently.
Why Musheer Khan Could Be Hard for Selectors to Ignore
Look at Musheer’s game right now.
He can score big runs.
He can bat according to the situation.
He has shown the patience required for red-ball cricket.
He looks hungry.
And on top of all that, he can bowl left-arm spin.
This is where Musheer becomes an interesting package.
When selectors have two talented batters competing for one position, the player who can contribute in another department naturally gives the team something extra.
Musheer’s bowling could provide him with exactly that advantage.
Of course, he still has a long way to go. He is only 21 and Indian domestic cricket is full of talented players.
But if Musheer continues scoring runs like this, selectors will have to keep looking at him.
Can Musheer Khan Enter India’s Test Team Soon?
At the moment, Test cricket appears to be Musheer’s most realistic route into the Indian team.
There is plenty of competition in India’s batting order, and several young players are already pushing for places.
So there is no need to rush Musheer.
He needs to keep doing what he is doing — scoring runs in domestic cricket, performing in tournaments like the Duleep Trophy and making every opportunity count.
His bowling will only strengthen his case.
White-ball cricket could take more time because India already have a huge pool of players in ODIs and T20Is. But in red-ball cricket, Musheer has the kind of game that could eventually attract serious attention.
Sarfaraz and Musheer – Two Brothers, Same Fighting Spirit
There is one thing you notice when you watch these two brothers.
Both are fighters.
Sarfaraz has always played his cricket with hunger and determination. Musheer seems to carry the same attitude.
Both understand match situations. Both know how to fight when the team is under pressure. And both have shown that they are ready to work hard for their opportunities.
Sarfaraz had to take a very long route before getting his chance for India.
Musheer will hope he doesn’t have to wait that long.
The younger Khan is trying to make sure that selectors have as few reasons as possible to look elsewhere. His batting is already doing the talking, while his left-arm spin adds another dimension to his game.
His 96 in the Duleep Trophy was another reminder of his talent.
Sarfaraz may be a storm, but Musheer is slowly becoming a tsunami.
And if Musheer Khan continues performing like this, ignoring him for long could become very difficult for the selectors.
Hopefully, one day, we will see both brothers representing India together.
That would be some sight.