Former India wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim recently shared an insightful interaction he had with Sarfaraz Khan during the Dharamsala Test against England earlier this year. In that match, India dominated, defeating England by an innings and 64 runs. Sarfaraz, who had debuted in the third Test of the series in Rajkot, managed to score a crucial half-century in the Dharamsala encounter.
After being dismissed for 56 off 60 balls, Sarfaraz confided in Karim, saying that the next time he played for India, he would score a century. True to his word, Sarfaraz achieved his maiden Test century on Day 4 of the ongoing first Test between India and New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
His journey to this milestone reflects his growing confidence and determination to succeed at the highest level. Karim, who witnessed Sarfaraz’s development firsthand, spoke highly of the young cricketer’s self-belief.
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“I met Sarfaraz after the Dharamsala Test, and he told me, ‘Next time, if I get an opportunity, I will definitely get a hundred.’ That self-belief has been key to his success. Today, we saw that confidence translate into his performance,” Saba Karim told Jio Cinema. He also praised Sarfaraz’s family, especially his father, Naushad Khan, for their relentless dedication to his cricketing journey.
“Kudos to Sarfaraz and his family. The hard work and hours they’ve invested in his game were on full display today,” Saba Karim added.
Sarfaraz brought up his century in just 109 balls, and alongside Rishabh Pant, he built a strong partnership that not only surpassed New Zealand’s first-innings lead of 356 runs but also put India in a commanding position. Pant played the more aggressive role in their partnership, complementing Sarfaraz’s composed approach.
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With the pitch still playing well for the batters, India is looking to set a substantial target for New Zealand, with time left in the match. Regardless of the outcome, Rohit Sharma’s team can take pride in the resilience they’ve shown, bouncing back from their poor first-innings performance with fighting spirit.
