900+ runs in consecutive Ranji Trophy seasons. An average of 70 or higher in First Class cricket. The third highest average by an FC batter in cricket history (70.48). Sarfaraz Khan’s records were insufficient to qualify him for his debut in the Indian Test team. Sarfaraz had been disappointed after ten years of gruelling Indian domestic cricket, as Indian selectors always found a reason to overlook the short and stout Mumbai batter.
But not anymore.
Sarfaraz Khan, 26, closed in on his first Test match for India on Monday, February 12, after KL Rahul was ruled out of the Rajkot Test, which begins on the 15th of the month.
While the long-awaited opportunity is set against the unfortunate backdrop of KL Rahul’s failure to recover from his quadriceps injury, such is the world and life. One man’s issue is another man’s opportunity.
“KL Rahul, whose availability for the next three Tests was dependent on fitness, has been ruled out of the third Test against England in Rajkot. Mr. Rahul has reached 90% match fitness and is progressing well under the supervision of the BCCI Medical Team,” the BCCI said. Statement was issued on Monday, February 12.
Fan Favourite Sarfaraz’s Best Chance
Sarfaraz is a fan favorite on the Indian domestic scene, and many people have been calling for him to play for India in the past two years. Sarfaraz is a prodigious talent in the Indian cricketing landscape, and his performances have already earned him a cult following at the age of 26.
Sarfaraz’s performance in the Ranji Trophy has been nothing short of outstanding. He has consistently been a standout performer for Mumbai in First-Class cricket, scoring 3912 runs in just 45 matches.
Sarfaraz was selected for the Indian team after performing well against the England Lions in the ongoing series. Sarfaraz scored 96, 4, 55, and 161 for the A team before receiving his first call-up in the second Test against England. The batter had to sit out the game after India gave Rajat Patidar his debut in Vizag. If the tradition of trusting First-Class players and their time with the Indian team continues, Sarfaraz Khan is more likely to make his debut in Rajkot than Devdutt Paddikkal, who has been named as KL Rahul’s replacement.
“I am an attacking player, but when an attacking player develops patience, he can become extremely dangerous. There were still some issues with my technique, but my father and I worked hard to improve it. So I learned to stay on the wicket and know exactly where my off stump is in red-ball cricket,” Sarfaraz Khan explained in 2022, while grinding it out in the Ranji season.
“I would play 600-700 balls per day at Cross Maidan and at home, primarily against the swinging ball. If T20s are on the horizon, I just hit out in the nets and practice the cut and pull. “For today’s cricket [first-class games], I would focus on leaving the ball because once you get through the first hour or so, you can get going and nobody can stop an attacking batsman like me,” Khan revealed his mind-boggling commitment.
If given a chance in the starting XI on February 15, the 26-year-old will hope to make the most of his opportunity. After all, the opportunity came not only because of his talent, but also as a result of years of hard work and dedication.