Reviving Parsi Cricketing Legacy:

Arzan Nagwaswalla’s Major Five Wicket Haul In Ranji Trophy 2018-19!

Arzan Nagwaswalla, Gujarat’s 21-year-old left-arm pacer, wowed one and all on day one of round four of the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy season, running through Mumbai’s middle-order to pick up his maiden five-wicket haul which resulted in Mumbai getting bowled out for 297! Playing only his third Ranji Trophy match, Arzan came away with top honours, especially as the first Parsi cricketer to play in the Ranji Trophy since Zubin Barucha represented Mumbai (1992 – 1995).

Having made a name for himself in Gujarat’s Junior Cricket and playing his first match at the Wankhede stadium, Arzan proved his mettle against an experienced Mumbai middle-order. After teammate Roosh Kalaria sent Mumbai openers Akhil Herwadkar and Jay Bista back to the pavilion early on, Siddesh Lad and Suryakumar Yadav revived Mumbai with 53-runs stand. But Nagwaswalla brought Gujarat back on top, first claiming three wickets of Yadav (40), Armaan Jaffer (0) and Aditya Tare (0); and then Lad (62) and completing his five wicket-haul, removing debutant Dhrumil Matkar (47) to finish at 5/78.

Nagwaswalla hails from Nargol village in Umbergaon. While most from his generation moved out in search of better opportunities in Mumbai, Nagwaswalla stayed back because of his love for cricket. Though our Parsi community has been an integral part of Indian Cricket during its early stages – including during the pre-Independence era – the presence of Parsis in cricket has been quickly diminishing, over the past few decades. Only a small number of community members have represented India so far – with Farokh Engineer being the last male cricketer to have played the game at the highest level (1961 – 1975); and former Indian Women’s Skipper and Current CoA member, Diana Eduljee, being the last woman player from the community to represent India at the highest level, making her Test debut in 1976 and playing till 1991.

With Arzan, our cricket-loving Parsi Community looks forward to resurrecting the erstwhile Parsi cricketing glory, and hopes to see more talented and inspired youth doing our Community and nation proud!