Sarfaraz Khan
marked his international debut with a half-century in the third Test between India and England in Rajkot, but his maiden Test knock ended in an unfortunate fashion as he got run out while looking good to score a century.
The mix-up with
Ravindra Jadeja
(112) came after Sarfaraz had scored an attacking 62 off 66 balls on the opening day of match on Thursday, as Mark Wood threw down the stumps direct at the non-striker's end to send the debutant back.
At the press conference after stumps on Day 1, Sarfaraz was asked about the misunderstading that led to his dismissal.
"There was a little miscommunication. This is part of the game. Sometimes there is a run-out, sometimes there is a run and sometimes there is not. So all this goes on. He (Jadeja) said that there was a little miscommunication. And I said was that it is okay, it happens. There is nothing big in it," Sarfaraz said during a post-day press conference.
Expressing gratitude, the 26-year-old extended his thanks to the experienced all-rounder Jadeja for guiding him during his debut. Initially hesitant, Sarfaraz struggled with the first few balls of his innings, even top-edging a slog sweep. He credited Jadeja for alleviating his nerves and encouraging him to aim for a substantial innings.
"When I was batting with Jadeja, I told him to play while communicating with me. I like to play that way. He helped me out a lot and supported me. He helped me control my nerves and told me to spend as much time as possible on the crease to understand everything. That is what I did and I scored runs," he added.
Sarfaraz had waited long to arrive on the international stage. He has excelled in first-class cricket, where he stood out in various Ranji Trophy seasons.
In 2021-22, he led the charts with 982 runs in six matches, followed by a notable fifth position in the 2019-20 season with 928 runs in six matches. He maintained a strong performance in the 2022-23 season, tallying 556 runs in six matches.
In India A's matches against England Lions recently, which coincided with the senior sides' Test series, Sarfaraz showcased his prowess and registered knocks of 96, 4, 55, and 161.
Across 45 first-class matches, Sarfaraz has scored 3,912 runs at an impressive average of 69.85, including 14 centuries and 11 fifties, with his highest score of 301 not out.
(With ANI inputs)
English (US) ·