Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has applauded Sarfaraz Khan for playing an amazing knock in India’s first innings of the third Test against England. However, Sarfaraz scored 62 runs off 66 balls as India posted 326/5 at Stumps on Day 1 in Rajkot on Thursday, February 15. He hit nine fours and a six during his innings and added 77 runs for the fifth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja as well.
Reviewing the first day’s play in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “Sarfaraz Khan became the 311th Indian to play Test cricket. He and his family have put in a lot of hard work. He got to bat when Rohit Sharma got out. He was sent late, he was shielded a little. However, once he came, how well he played. He equalled Hardik Pandya’s 48-ball 50 and played in brilliant fashion.”
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“He dominated spin and didn’t make you feel that he was having any trouble. He hit sixes and fours straight down the ground and picked up singles after using his wrists very well. He gladdened our hearts. So Sarfaraz Khan’s performance was thumbs up with both thumbs,” the former India opener further added.
Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra further added that Sarfaraz Khan could have made an even bigger contribution if he was not getting out. He also shared that the debutant had to pay for Ravindra Jadeja’s mistake. On the other side, Aakash Chopra said that Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Rajat Patidar proved to be letdowns as well.
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“India’s top three wickets broke our spirits. The first wicket fell at 22 in the form of Yashasvi Jaiswal. He got an outside edge off Mark Wood’s bowling. Then Shubman Gill couldn’t even open his account. Shubman Gill was looking troubled till the time he was there. He finds himself in difficulties against incoming deliveries and because of that, he was playing inside the line. It was almost identical to the way he got out in the first innings in Visakhapatnam off Anderson’s bowling and here it was off Wood’s bowling. Rajat Patidar too got out when the ball stuck slightly on the pitch,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
