The journey for Indian batter Sarfaraz Khan has been nothing short of hard work, perseverance, and resilience. After years of constant hard work and grinding in domestic cricket, Sarfaraz finally realized his childhood dream and turned up in the Indian jersey for the first time against England earlier this year. This moment was further made special as it came in front of his father and coach, Naushad Khan, who had been his strength throughout his journey.
For Sarfaraz, the Test series came as a breakthrough to the mainstream. Having such a burden on a guy who is representing India at the highest level, Sarfaraz did a pretty good job of his own to pull off 200 runs in as many as five innings, including three well-structured half-centuries. As he batted, it could be noticed that the innings he played only underscored years of toiling in domestic cricket and capacity for quick adaptation to the demands of the international game.
As Sarfaraz gears up to lead Mumbai in the prestigious Buchi Babu tournament in Tamil Nadu, he finds himself at a very crucial juncture in his career. This comes ahead of the important upcoming Duleep Trophy, where those looking to stake a claim in the Indian Test squad are going to be at great advantage, especially for the upcoming three-match Test series against Bangladesh. With the plethora of talent in the Indian cricketing circuit, the competition for a place in the middle order is quite stiff, and Sarfaraz is one such victim.
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The uncertainty of selection has not ruffled Sarfaraz’s feathers at all. He has simply adopted a mindset of “zero expectations” but only prepares himself for any kind of opportunity that may knock on his door. “I have zero expectation, but I’ll be ready if the opportunity arises. “That is what I’ve been doing all along, and I don’t see any reason to change that,” said Sarfaraz Khan in an interview with The Indian Express.
The Indian team management had asked #SarfarazKhan to work on his fitness, and he did the hard yards in the off-season to be in the best shape to be ready for an opportunity when it comes.
By @venkatatweets https://t.co/OsA0FeUu4Q
— Express Sports (@IExpressSports) August 16, 2024
Reflecting back on his debut, Sarfaraz Khan expressed his deep sense of gratitude for the chance of being able to represent the country, a chance which has been much-awaited and therefore much more cherished. He not only bluntly explained how tense he was initially while walking out to bat in Indian whites for the first time, but he also stated how soon the feeling turned into peace and tranquillity.
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“Some get a break very soon in their career. One has to wait. In my case, it was good that it took time because I got to spend a lot of time in domestic cricket and that grind really helped me in becoming a better batter. When I made my debut, for the first three deliveries, I was nervous. But after that, I was in control. “Whatever I used to do at the domestic level, I was doing the same in Test cricket. I was very clear in my mind. I wasn’t looking at the opposition or the bowler,” Sarfaraz Khan added.
This is evidenced by Sarfaraz’s own hot bad record, with 4,112 runs at an average of 68.53 in 71 innings. As he continues to pursue his passion, Sarfaraz remains focused on the process rather than the outcome, a mindset that will undoubtedly serve him well in the challenges that lie ahead.
