In Ranji Trophy 2025-26, Mumbai team has come to play its first match against Jammu and Kashmir. Irfan Umair is also a part of the Mumbai team in this match being held at Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar. This is the debut match of left arm fast bowler Irfan in first class cricket. Umair took the first wicket of his first class career by dismissing Kamran Iqbal in the first innings.
The story of 29 year old Irfan Umair is no less than a film script. Facing all the difficulties, Irfan traveled from Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi to Mumbai. Now he has made his place in Mumbai’s Ranji team. Irfan said in an interview to Indian Express that when he came to Mumbai in 2017, he had only Rs 5,500.
Irfan Umair got down at Kurla station and started living in a room with 12 people in a slum. Irfan said that the initial years were very difficult for him. He worked as a waiter (server) in a hotel, where he got Rs 300 per day. Irfan sometimes had to sleep at the station, and sometimes learned to make sushi (Japanese dish) in the local kitchen to earn his living.
Took a big decision at the age of 17
When Irfan Umair turned 17, he decided to make cricket a career. His parents did not like this. He put a condition before Irfan that first he should pass 10th and then think about it. Irfan’s father used to work in Saudi Arabia, who later returned home. In such a situation, his mother wanted her son to do a job. Irfan convinced his parents with the help of his uncle.
Irfan Umair met local coach Prashant Shetty in Mumbai. Prashant was very impressed after seeing Irfan’s bowling and he talked to MIG, a famous club of Bandra East. However, amidst all this, the real difficulty for Irfan was to survive. When Irfan served food to the guests wearing a waiter’s uniform on the first day, he cried. He said, ‘That was the worst day of my life. I thought whether I have come here to play cricket or to become a waiter. He used to earn Rs 300 a day.
Any outsider wishing to play for Mumbai had to be a local resident for 1 year to register. Irfan Umair did not know this rule, so he had to pay eight thousand rupees to an agent to get the certificate made. In such a situation, his financial condition worsened and he had to do double shifts. That means catering work had to be done day and night.
Irfan Umair was stuck in Mumbai during the Covid-19 lockdown. His roommate had a credit card, with the help of which both of them met their expenses. However, for this only Rs 3500 had to be paid every month as interest. Later his friend got a job abroad, so he paid all the money.
Irfan Umair later joined CCI (Cricket Club of India). Meanwhile, he worked in a restaurant in Bandra, where he learned to make sushi. The rest of the team players used to come to CCI in expensive vehicles, but Irfan had no money. That’s why he doesn’t make excuses and go out with his teammates.
ISPL changed its fate
Someone suggested him that extra money could be earned by playing tennis ball cricket. Then what… Irfan Umair became famous in tennis ball cricket and became the first choice of every team. In the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL), he was bought by Falcon Risers Hyderabad team for Rs 16 lakh. After this he left working in the hotel.
Irfan Umair was performing well continuously. He was noticed by Chief Selector Sanjay Patil during a talent hunt organized by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). What happened next, he was selected as the net bowler of the Mumbai team. He was also selected for the selection trial before the last Ranji season, but his luck was bad then. His landlord asked him to vacate the room because he had returned home late at night. He could not go to the trial and another opportunity was lost.
After this, he met Abhishek Nair during the Mumbai T20 League. Nair told him to keep working hard, he will definitely get a chance. Eventually, Irfan Umair joined Mumbai’s Ranji team. Irfan Umair’s story teaches us that if you are courageous and hardworking, anyone can become the city of dreams.
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