10 September,2026 08:46 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh Mayure
Victory Cricket Club’s Jay Bista during the Kanga League match against New Hindu Cricket Club at Islam Gymkhana on Sunday. Pic/Ashish Raje
[popcorn number="192" desc="No. of runs scored by Bista in three matches of the ongoing Kanga League so far" class="Default"]
[popcorn number="1898" desc="No. of runs scored by Jay Bista in 34 first-class matches @ 32.72" class="Default"]
Attacking opener Jay Bista, 30, is currently not in Mumbai's senior team plans, but the batter is not willing to give up. Bista, who has played 34 first-class matches and scored 1,898 runs, made his Ranji Trophy debut in 2015. He moved to Uttarakhand in 2021-22, where he scored 224 runs in four Ranji games, before returning to Mumbai, whom he last represented in the 2023-24 season, scoring 188 runs in four matches during their title-winning campaign.
Recently, while leading Victory Cricket Club in the ongoing Dr HD Kanga Cricket League Division âA', Bista has scored 192 runs in three games - 78 off 48 balls against Shivaji Park Gymkhana, 24 off 24 against PJ Hindu Gymkhana and 90 off 64 against New Hindu Cricket Club.
Bista feels there are two primary reasons why he is not being considered for Ranji selection. First, he believes Mumbai's selection committee have deemed him a white-ball player. Second, he feels the selectors consider his age a problem.
"I don't know what they [Mumbai selectors] are currently looking at. They haven't included me even in the Ranji probables. I don't think I'm that bad to not even make the probables. I've heard that I have been labelled as a white-ball player and someone who can't play red-ball cricket, but I'm scoring runs in red-ball cricket. Last year, I played three Times Shield games where I scored one fifty and 150 [146 vs DY Patil Group B]. So, I'm enjoying scoring runs in red-ball cricket," Bista told mid-day.
On the age factor, he said: "I have heard that some people feel I'm a bit old to be considered for Mumbai. But if I'm at the top of my fitness levels, then I don't see any issue. In fact, fitness-wise, I'm just getting better every day," added Bista, admitting it's difficult to digest being overlooked.
"It feels bad not to be in this scheme of things because, from the age of 13 till 28, I have continuously played BCCI tournaments for Mumbai or Uttarakhand. Even now, I'm doing my job. It's been a good start to the season, scoring runs in Kanga League," said Bista, who has scored 1,384 runs in 35 List A matches and 1,001 in 34 T20s.
"I want to play at the highest level and that's the only reason I returned to Mumbai. I'm a hardcore Mumbaikar and love everything about the cricket here," concluded Bista.
