And just like that, it was over. An innings that began with a bang, ended in a whimper as Sarfaraz Khan was unfortunately run out after making one of the most entertaining debuts by an Indian cricketer. Sarfaraz Khan , who earlier in the day had finally realised his dream of playing for India in front of his family, was playing a blitzkrieg, striking a 48-ball half-century, the joint second-fastest by an Indian on debut. He was batting on 62 off 66 balls before his innings came to a brutal halt.
A perfect story to end India’s day on field at Rajkot on Day 1. Spurred with the centuries from skipper Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja, and with hurricane of runs to his back in the domestic format, Sarfaraz Khan just staged a perfect beginning to what could be his prolonged cricketing journey internationally atleast in tests. Sheer determination and urge to fulfill his father’s dream, post Day 1 after India stands 326 for 5 from once being 33 for 3 the talking point has to be Sarfaraz Khan’s dream debut in international shoes.
The Sarfaraz Khan exploits in Indian domestic circuit
As Sanju Samson has to be for India in white ball formats, Mumbai wicket keeper batter Sarfaraz Khan has been revolving in the Indian cricketing circuit and brewing in the media for quite a few time for non selection in the Indian test squad even after two stellar seasons with the red ball in the marquee Indian first class tournament The Ranji Trophy.
Talking about his performance, Sarfaraz has scored 556 runs in six games at an average of 92.66 in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy campaign with the help of three centuries. In the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy season, he had 982 runs at an average of 122.75. Overall, he has an average of 69.6 in First Class cricket. Earlier in December, the 26-year-old batter also smashed a century off 63 balls during India’s three-day intra-squad practice match in Pretoria. He played this knock against the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Harshit Rana.
In addition to make his statement strong for selection, Mumbai-based batter Sarfaraz Khan once again made the headlines with his performance. Playing for India A in the ongoing two-day practice match against England Lions, Sarfaraz smashed 96 off 110 balls. His knock, which consisted of 11 boundaries and one six, came exactly after the day when India’s squad for the first two Tests against England was announced and he was once again overlooked for KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel who scored 64 and 50 runs for India A.
Since 2008, the inception year of the IPL, approximately 50 players have represented India in Tests. But a trend began to unfold around the 2016-17 season where cricketers shot to the spotlight because of the IPL and were right away in the reckoning and players like Sarfaraz Khan who had a strong foothold in the longer format in domestic circuits were given a miss of an eye by the selectors edging them to prove themselves every time for the National Team selection.
However injuries to all rounder Ravindra Jadeja and star batter KL Rahul propelled the selectors to select the likes of Sarfaraz Khan who scored 160 ball 161 and Saurabh Kumar who took fifer in India A’s second unofficial test versus the England lions in the Indian squad as less time was remaining for the second test to commence at Vizag.
Now gotten a chance after serious performance in domestic circuits, Sarfaraz Khan was eager to continue his exploits at the highest level as well and when he came out to bat stranding 4 hours in the dressing padded up witnessing epic 204 runs being scored in a partnership, he made sure that the next hour and the entire day the whole nation would only talk about him despite centuries from skipper Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja.
Sarfaraz Khan’s magical 62 propels India to 326 for 5 and impresses all
An innings that began with a bang, ended in a whimper as Sarfaraz Khan was unfortunately run out after making one of the most entertaining debuts by an Indian cricketer. Sarfaraz, who earlier in the day had finally realised his dream of playing for India in front of his family, was playing a blitzkrieg, striking a 48-ball half-century, the joint second-fastest by an Indian on debut. He was batting on 62 off 66 balls before his innings came to a brutal halt.
Ravindra Jadeja, batting on 99, tucked the ball to mid-on. He called for a run and then refused. Sarfaraz, wanting Jadeja to complete his hundred as much as his partner and the entire Indian team, committed, and by the time he realised that the all-rounder had pulled back, it was too late. Mark Wood got to the ball, picked it up and smashed the stumps at the non-striker end with a fierce direct hit.
Having said that, Sarfaraz opted to dwell on the positives rather than the mix-up. The emotional reactions of his father and wife, the rush of emotions when Anil Kumble presented him the cap, facing that first ball, scoring that first run and to top it all, smashing a fifty on debut. As for the run out, Jadeja made it clear on Instagram that he was ‘feeling sad’ about the call, but what about Sarfaraz. What did the youngster feel about getting his promising start cut short by an error on judgment from his senior.
As has been the story of his life, Sarfaraz had to wait for his turn to bat. When India were reduced to 33/3 inside the first hour of Day 1, Sarfaraz was next in-line to face the chin music but the team management decided to protect him against the experienced due of James Anderson and Wood. Jadeja walked in ahead of him and as he and captain Rohit Sharma forged a terrific 204-run partnership, Sarfaraz had to stay contend in the change room.
When Rohit fell, England thought they had their foot inside the door. With two debutants, Ravichandran Ashwin and the tail left, Ben Stokes and company would have fancied their chances of orchestrating another Indian batting collapse. But after all it wasn’t to be. Sarfaraz showed the world a glimpse of his batting prowess and caught the opposition off guard. He and Jadeja raced to a fifty partnership with Sarfaraz scoring 43 of those runs before a cruel twist cut Sarfaraz’ innings short.
As the 26-year-old son lived his father’s dream, his class came to the fore. His ability to play spin with consummate ease was a welcome sign for a batting lineup that has been struggling against spin of late, particularly in this series. His footwork, his assurance, his anticipation, his defence and even his attack would have impressed the connoisseurs of the game. All the commentators on air, from Sunil Gavaskar to Sanjay Manjrekar to Ravi Shastri to Nick Knight, were raving about his technique and temperament.
Former Indian cricketer now commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has garnered huge praises on this new Indian sensation who lit up the day at Rajkot.
Sanjay Manjrekar praises young sensation Sarfaraz Khan
Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar praised debutant Sarfaraz Khan’s old-fashioned batting against spin in his maiden Test innings on Day 1 of the third Test against England. After being selected in the squad for the second Test, Sarfaraz finally featured in the playing XI, replacing Shreyas Iyer. Sarfaraz came to bat in the final session on Day 1 and immediately showcased his incredible ability against spin by scoring a 48-ball half-century.
Speaking on ESPN Cricinfo at stumps on Day 1, Manjrekar was impressed by Sarfaraz’s ability to milk the spinners at will .
“Exceptional. Just the way he batted was like somebody from the past that’s come to the present with the way he played spin. It was a sight for the sore eyes, his judgment of length and the way he maneuvered the good balls when most young batters would just block and build up dot balls. But he was taking the singles , superb against spin and has the backfoot play as well,” said Manjrekar.
Sarfaraz Khan was unfortunately run out in a horrible mix-up with Ravindra Jadeja for 62 off 66 deliveries at the fag end of the day. The Mumbai batter has been in exceptional form in first-class cricket, scoring a sensational 161 in his most recent innings before the ongoing Test against the England Lions.
Sanjay Manjrekar continued praising Sarfaraz Khan’s ability against spin and felt even the lofted shots were never pre-meditated.
The 26-year-old has set the domestic circuit on fire over the past few years, averaging almost 70 in his 45-game first-class career.
“Even when he lofted the spin, it wasn’t pre-planned. He went towards the ball and at the last minute decided to hit the ball in the air so it was more like a chip shot. He looks gifted against spin and is very old-fashioned in the way he plays. Also, watching players like Sarfaraz, Prithvi Shaw, who are from Mumbai roots, gives the impression that they’ve played a million balls in their life,” said Manjrekar
Manjrekar also credited Sarfaraz for overcoming the initial examination against the pace of Mark Wood
“Like how he started as well because that was the real test. Sarfaraz was in the team because there was a lot of spin expected but he had to start off against Mark Wood and a bit of Anderson he had to face yet he didn’t put a foot wrong there. Once that was taken care of, spin was always going to be the easier part because he has played much better spinners than these. And him getting run out was a sad moment today,” added Manjrekar.
Sarfaraz walked in after skipper Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja had added 204 runs for the third wicket. While England may have looked to run through the rest of the Indian batting lineup, the debutant had other ideas, as he immediately transferred the pressure back to spinners. His quickfire innings ensured India finished on top at the end of Day 1 at 326/5.
It was a day full of emotions, tears, embraces, kisses, and, of course, disappointments too. Naushad Khan, the doting father, proudly kissed the Indian cap that his son received, and Sarfaraz embraced his father in full public view. Jadeja took to social media to apologize to his younger teammate for running him out, while in the dressing room captain Rohit threw his cap in disgust at the abrupt end of Sarfaraz’s flourishing innings.
In just over an hour and 66 balls, Sarfaraz Khan seemed to have touched the hearts of everyone associated with Indian cricket. Surely, he was a latecomer to international cricket, but it was worth the wait.