Rajkot Test Day-1
The Baptism of class witnessed in Sarfaraz Khan
The delivery arrived a tad fuller, right on the stumps, yet it didn’t deter him one bit.
With gusto and gumption, he strode out confidently and sent the ball soaring over the bowler’s head, effortlessly clearing the boundary.
It was a six reminiscent of the power and finesse seen in the shots of Rohit Sharma, his captain, who has amassed 593 international sixes, 80 of them in Tests.
Rohit dispatched three of those sixes on Day 1 of the Rajkot Test before falling while attempting a fourth, but his young teammate appeared more assured, striking that six off Tom Hartley.
It was the baptism of class by Sarfaraz Khan, who finally received his international cap at the Niranjan Shah Stadium on Thursday after what felt like an eternity of waiting.
Throughout his 75-minute innings, Sarfaraz displayed a maturity far beyond his years, belying the fact that this was his debut Test and maiden international appearance.
On a day marked by two potentially match-saving centuries, Sarfaraz’s half-century stood out for its aggression, exuberance, and brilliance.
His elegance and determination, marked by unwavering resolve, stole the spotlight on the first day of the third Test against England.
Across 66 deliveries, he resembled a ruthless gladiator ready to pounce on the opposition, demonstrating a remarkable understanding of the conditions and match dynamics.
It was a display of sheer class.
Anil Kumble, who presented him with the cap in the morning, felt that during his innings of 62 (with one six and nine fours), Sarfaraz rarely looked like a debutant.
He seemed to belong on the international stage.
Apart from the aforementioned six, he attempted another that fell just short of the boundary rope, executed with equal elan, power, and confidence, much like the eight other boundaries he struck.
His 77-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja bolstered India’s position after the earlier rescue act by Rohit and Jadeja, who had put on a 204-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Sarfaraz’s contribution of 62 in that fifth-wicket partnership of 77 was exemplary for a debutant.
He could have been the third centurion of the day for India, but a misunderstanding with Jadeja left him stranded at the non-striker’s end, resulting in an unlucky run-out as he tried to assist his senior partner to his century.
Nevertheless, none of the England bowlers, including the irrepressible James Anderson and fiery Mark Wood, appeared to trouble him.
Forget the spinners, they were no match either.
Before he finally took center stage and showcased his class, Sarfaraz had to endure a four-hour wait.
Rohit and Jadeja were rebuilding the Indian innings after it had stumbled to 33 for three.
This lengthy wait for his turn mirrored his prolonged wait for international selection.
Despite scoring hundreds and thousands of runs in domestic cricket, an India cap had remained elusive.
Literally a run machine for Mumbai, with an average close to 70 in first-class cricket.
“I was waiting for four hours, all padded up.
I have waited long enough for this moment and I thought I can wait a little longer,” he said after stumps on Day 1.
Clearly, patience is his hallmark.
When he finally got his opportunity, he didn’t squander it.
“When I went to the middle, I felt nervous for a few deliveries.
After that, it was fine.
All my hard work paid off,” he remarked.
“Once I went into my zone, it didn’t feel difficult.
I realized I’ve been doing this all these days.”
Sarfaraz Khan’s journey embodies filial gratitude.
His father, Naushad Khan, a talented cricketer in Mumbai’s local circuit, harbored dreams of playing for the nation.
Unable to realize this aspiration himself, he sought to live it vicariously through his two sons.
Sarfaraz’s younger brother, Musheer Khan, currently an India U-19 cricketer, is part of this shared dream.
Naushad laid a turf at their home in Mumbai’s Kurla area, tirelessly providing throwdowns day in and day out, nurturing his sons’ cricketing talents.
Even during the challenges of the Covid pandemic, they traveled long distances to their village in Uttar Pradesh to practice without interruption, as Mumbai’s lockdown restrictions hindered their training.
When the moment finally arrived, Sarfaraz felt immense pride.
Vicariously fulfilling his father’s dream brought him profound joy.
“My father introduced me to cricket when I was six.
I wanted to give him the satisfaction of witnessing his son play international cricket in his lifetime.
It was my dream for him. It felt incredible.”
Impressive in both technique and temperament, the 26-year-old showcased his class on the field.
His adeptness at playing spin with ease was a relief for a batting lineup that had struggled against spin, particularly in the ongoing series.
His footwork, composure, anticipation, defensive skills, and attacking prowess garnered praise from cricketing legends and commentators alike.
“He batted really well,” remarked Paul Collingwood, England’s assistant coach.
“On debut, it takes a lot of courage to come out and play like that.
You can see why he has a pretty good first-class average; he looks a decent player.”
Despite being run out, Sarfaraz remained composed, displaying the maturity of a seasoned international cricketer rather than a debutant.
“It’s part of the game… just a miscommunication.
It happens,” he shrugged, embodying resilience and sportsmanship.
Emotions ran high throughout the day, with tears, embraces, kisses, and moments of disappointment.
Naushad Khan kissed the Indian cap his son received with pride, while Sarfaraz publicly embraced his father.
Jadeja took to social media to apologize for running out his younger teammate, and in the dressing room, captain Rohit expressed frustration at the premature end of Sarfaraz’s promising innings.
In just over an hour and facing 66 balls, Sarfaraz managed to touch the hearts of everyone associated with Indian cricket.
Though he arrived late to international cricket, his impactful debut was worth the wait.
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