Divij Mehra's Redemption: Delhi Pacer Conquers Mumbai Again After Injury Ordeal
In domestic cricket, certain players find an extra gear when facing elite opponents like Mumbai. Divij Mehra, the 23-year-old fast bowler from Delhi, has proven to be one such performer, delivering match-winning spells against the powerhouse team on multiple occasions.
Historic Performance Against Mumbai
Back in January 2023, at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium, Mehra announced his arrival with a devastating spell of 5/30 in 13 overs during the second innings. His military medium-pace bowling, combined with menacing movement, fashioned Delhi's eight-wicket victory over Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. This triumph marked Delhi's first win against Mumbai in the prestigious tournament in over four decades.
Among his victims during that maiden five-wicket haul were domestic run-machine Sarfaraz Khan, Prithvi Shaw (who had smashed a triple century against Assam that same 2022-23 season), Musheer Khan, Armaan Jaffer, and Mohit Avasthi.
Emotional Comeback After Injury Struggles
Three years later, Mehra has repeated his heroics against Mumbai, taking just his second five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. On Saturday, bowling with tremendous heart and determination, he claimed 5/64 in 31 overs to restrict Mumbai to 317 on Day Three of their final Ranji Trophy league match.
This performance is particularly remarkable considering Mehra's career has been derailed by injuries in recent years. He was playing only his second Ranji match this season after spending significant time on the sidelines.
"I was injured for the last few years after taking that five-for against Mumbai, so it felt very good to have contributed," Mehra told reporters after the day's play. "I had struck a good rhythm in my last match against Chhattisgarh, and was just looking to stick to my strengths."
Career Setbacks and Missed Opportunities
The young pacer revealed how injuries robbed him of crucial opportunities, including a chance to play in the IPL for Punjab Kings. "I had a spur in my heel on my landing foot, so I had to get that bone removed," he explained. "I was in the Punjab Kings camp, but due to the injury, I couldn't play a single match. I spent the next 1.5 years recovering from that injury."
Just when he thought he had overcome one setback, another followed. "After that, I played a match against Madhya Pradesh, but hurt my hip flexor. So, my next two seasons went on the sidelines only, recovering from injuries," Mehra added.
The emotional toll was significant. "I was feeling very bad sitting at home. If I had played in those two seasons, I would've been somewhere else," he rued.
Guidance from Senior Players
Mehra's resurgence has been aided by valuable advice from experienced campaigners. He has benefited immensely from time spent with India and Delhi's veteran pacer Ishant Sharma during the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
"I spent a lot of time with Ishant bhaiya in the Vijay Hazare Trophy," Mehra shared. "He has helped in setting my routine and the areas I have to work on before the next season. He has told me about the kind of training I have to go through and what my schedule should be like as a fast bowler."
Both Ishant Sharma and India's Test vice-captain Rishabh Pant, who led Delhi for several matches this season, provided crucial feedback to the young bowler. They didn't sugarcoat their assessment, with Ishant delivering particularly direct advice.
"They both spoke with me in detail and told me that whatever I am doing is not enough in white-ball cricket," Mehra revealed. "There are a lot of areas to work upon. Ishant bhaiya spoke with me sternly after one match saying 'this isn't enough.' He made me realise things which I was not able to do by myself. Rishabh bhaiya said that I bowl in right areas but I will have to work on my pace and variation."
Emotional Fulfillment and Future Aspirations
After taking Avasthi's wicket to complete his five-wicket haul, an emotional Mehra thumped the BKC turf, overwhelmed by the moment. "I became a bit emotional because before this season began, I had told my father that we are playing against Mumbai again and I will try to repeat that feat," he explained.
"For the whole season, I was trying to make a comeback into the Delhi team, and played all the matches of the Delhi Under-23 team. With our senior players away, I got an opportunity to play in the last two matches. So, it felt good to contribute," Mehra added.
The pacer now feels optimistic about his future. "After making a comeback this year, I'm feeling better. My target was to play all the matches this season, and I've done that," he said with satisfaction.
Special Achievement Against Elite Opposition
Mehra emphasized the significance of performing against Mumbai, particularly in their home conditions. "It's special to take a five-for against Mumbai in Mumbai," he stated. "Even if my next five-wicket haul comes against Mumbai, I'll be very happy, because it's a big team. The way they play as a team, for each other is something that our inexperienced team can learn from."
He remained humble about his achievement, acknowledging the quality of opposition. "All of Mumbai's batters are good. On another day, they could have hammered me. The wicket was helping me in the morning and evening," Mehra concluded, showing respect for his opponents while celebrating his hard-earned success.
