Ten years ago, Mohammed Siraj was a Ranji Trophy breakout star. In his first full season (2016-17), he finished as the third-highest wicket-taker (41 wickets in nine matches at an average of 18.92). On Tuesday, he wrapped up his first win while captaining the side that launched a career that took him to international stage.

Between the two lies an India career and a drive Siraj says has not changed.

“I still have the same hunger and passion that I had when I made my debut [for Hyderabad]. When I’m replacing someone [in the team], my intention is to create magic for the team,” he declared.

“To win our first match of the season and my first match as a captain is an amazing feeling. [Getting a bonus point] is a big boost for us and we want to carry this forward.”

On a red-soil pitch that didn’t hand pacers an easy ride, he said hard work made the difference. “Red soil wickets are always helpful to fast bowlers. But this wasn’t.”

Spinners, meanwhile, made the most of the surface: 30 wickets fell in total, with tweakers bagging 27 and one being a runout. The remaining two were scalped by Siraj himself.

The 32-year-old also credited Wasim Jaffer, roped in as a mentor to all teams in HCA’s purview, for his role in the team.

“Wasim bhai is always telling batters where and how to score. He made sure we stayed focused. He’s a domestic legend and knows how to play on these wickets.”

In three previous First Class appearances for Jammu & Kashmir, Lone Nasir hadn’t picked up a wicket. He had scored all of 115 runs, his best being a knock of 44. His selection, therefore, for the Irani Cup fixture against Rest of India was unexpected. So much so that J&K didn’t have a jersey adorning his name and number in place for the game.

If there was a way to announce himself, the 29-year-old all-rounder couldn’t have done much better than snare three wickets on the opening day and follow it up with an entertaining 64 off 58 balls. Not for much longer will he have to wear a shirt with Vivrant Sharma’s name taped on his back.

“My selection was at the last minute. It was unexpected. I wasn’t sure I would be picked even though I had done well in the trial games,” Nasir said at the close of day two.

Nasir’s all-round show has put J&K in a strong position. When he came in to bat at No. 10, the host was teetering on the abyss at 166 for eight. But his 64-run stand with skipper Paras Dogra turned things around. “Such situations are not new to me. I have taken the J&K under-23 team out of such situations many times. The belief was there.”