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 Sarfaraz Khan enters into test arena with full determination.
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.
Sarfaraz Khan didn’t disappoint and scored his second fifty in as many innings in Tests A quite 4th test at Ranchi but again after given a cushion of runs by top 3 batters at Dharamshala Sarfaraz khan with his acrobatics sweeps and shots dominant on English spinners scored yet other 50 . 3rd in the debut series with sweep shots a plenty which urged former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra to wonder how this man didn’t get an IPL contract.
Sarfaraz Khan has played for 2 or 3 franchises- Aakash Chopra
Former Indian cricketer now commentator Aakash Chopra feels Sarfaraz Khan would have been picked by an IPL franchise for the upcoming season if the auction was held tomorrow. He commented after Sarfaraz scored a blistering fifty in the first innings of the fifth Test in Dharamsala. The right-handed batter scored 56 off 60 balls to help India to take a lead of 255 runs at stumps on Day 2.
The Mumbai batter was not signed by any team for IPL 2024 despite his aggressive batting in domestic cricket. Chopra was not surprised by Sarfaraz Khan not finding a team in the tournament.
During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Chopra was asked whether it is surprising that Sarfaraz Khan doesnt have an IPL contract considering the attacking knocks he has played in the ongoing series.
“I am personally not that surprised, or I would say that I am as surprised as I am with the fact that Pat Cummins got 20.50 crore rupees. Recency bias is a very important thing. If the auction had been tomorrow, he would have got a contract,” he responded.
The former India opener noted that the Mumbai middle order batter has failed to impress in the eight seasons of the prestigious league he has played.
“However, the auction should be dependent on how you have played in the last five to seven years in that format and in that tournament. Sarfaraz had a contract since he was 18 years old. He has played for two or three franchises,” Chopra stated.
Sarfaraz has been a part of 50 matches in the IPL and scored 585 runs at an average of 22.5. He represented Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals.
Aakash Chopra is not surprised where no one picked Sarfaraz Khan for the auction in 2024
Aakash Chopra pointed out that no one was surprized when Sarfaraz Khan wasnt picked at the auction.
“Let’s be honest, he hasn’t got those many opportunities. However, we weren’t surprised when no one picked him in the auction and that’s why there was no discussion as well at that time,” he said.
The cricketer turned commentator added that Sarfaraz is in focus now just like Pat Cummins was before the auction.
“Now we are definitely talking about him, that he plays this or that, but he is doing that here, just like Pat Cummins had won the World Cup. However, Australia haven’t made him the T20I captain after he won the World Cup. It’s a separate story that Daniel Vettori had kept 20.50 crore rupees aside for him,” Chopra observed.
Reports suggests a few franchises are interested in acquiring Sarfaraz Khan heading into IPL 2024. He could come in as an injury replacement if one of their recruits is ruled out of the tournament.