Cricketing families in Indian cricket isn’t something new. Correction, cricketing families in Men’s cricket isn’t new. Mumbai’s Jaffer family, known for breaking records, is now breaking traditions. 

Fatima Jaffer, the daughter of the well-known coach in Mumbai’s cricketing circles, Kaleem Jaffer, the niece of former India opener and Mumbai domestic legend, Wasim Jaffer, and the sister of up and coming Mumbai batter, Armaan Jaffer, is carrying on the family cricketing baton.

As she speaks to Mumbai Indians, the admiration in her voice as she talks about her father is very evident.

“I was around seven or eight when I first started to play cricket. It was my father’s decision. He asked me to play cricket, because he wanted one of the girls from the family to play cricket,” she said.

“He never stopped me from doing anything. He always encouraged me to play cricket. Even when I’m not doing well, he comes up to me and encourages me. There’s no major difference between Kaleem Jaffer the father and Kaleem Jaffer the coach. We mostly discuss only cricket even at home.”

But she’s no ordinary cricketer. Most cricketers, however new-age or unorthodox, can’t do what Fatima does. She bowls right-arm medium pace, and when she decides to mix things up, turns into a left-arm spinner just as effortlessly. Oh, and she’s also a very bankable batter; the Jaffer surname guarantees you that.

“I got into the Mumbai side as a right-arm pacer. But in the first match that I played, three of our spinners got called for chucking,” she explains the sudden transformation.

“My then coach knew that I used to practice left arm spin, not as a profession, just for fun. So he came up to me and asked me if I could bowl it in the match. The first ever match I bowled in as a left-arm spinner, I got three wickets. Then I got five in the next game.”

And you bet it’s not easy.

“It takes a lot of practice. There’s no real control in your left hand.”

That’s Fatima Jaffer for you. Mumbai Indians’ very own Mumbai chi mulgi, bowler on demand - right-arm fast, left-arm spin. A net bowler with the team in 2023, a part of the main squad in 2024. Welcome home, Fatima!