Sarfaraz Khan announced his arrival in Test cricket with a blazing debut against England in the third Test at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, earning praise from former cricketer Parthiv Patel. Patel, who represented India in 25 Tests from 2002 to 2018, commended Sarfaraz for his fearless approach on debut. Batting at No.6, Sarfaraz’s innings was highlighted by a 48-ball half-century, accumulating 62 runs off 66 deliveries, adorned with nine boundaries and one six.
His pivotal partnership of 77 runs with Ravindra Jadeja for the fifth wicket bolstered India’s position, as they ended the day at 326 for 5 in 86 overs. Patel acknowledged Sarfaraz’s proficiency, attributing it to his extensive experience in first-class cricket, signalling a promising journey ahead for the youngster in the longer format.
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“Without a doubt, it was India’s day, the way Ravindra Jadeja and Rohit Sharma batted, but the day will be in Sarfaraz Khan’s name. It was a very long wait. You got a chance to play Test cricket after scoring so many runs, and the way you batted. We spoke about how nervous he would be and whether he would have butterflies in his stomach,” Parthiv Patel said on Colors Cineplex.
“However, Sarfaraz said he had no such butterflies, he struck the fastest half-century on debut. There cannot be a bigger testimony than this for any batter. When you have so many runs behind you in first-class cricket, all these things don’t matter. You have to get slightly used to the pressure of playing Test cricket but Sarfaraz showed that you can bat like this if you have a full idea about your game,” he added.
Amid Sarfaraz’s promising innings, it was tragically cut short by an unfortunate run-out at the non-striker’s end. Mark Wood of England executed a precise direct hit, offering a moment of relief for the visitors as Sarfaraz departed.
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The dismissal unfolded when Ravindra Jadeja initiated a call for a single, only to retract in hesitation. However, the reversal came too late for the Mumbai batter, who found himself short of the crease when the bails were dislodged. The episode marked a turning point, truncating what appeared to be a burgeoning innings for Sarfaraz.
