Ind vs Eng 3rd Test: Sarfaraz Khan fulfills father’s dream after his debut in the Indian team on 15 February 2024. His father Naushad’s wish was Sarfaraz Khan, would one day play for the Indian team. After receiving his test cap from great India leg-spinner Anil Kumble at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, Sarfaraz Khan fulfilled his father’s dream and also his childhood dream.
Sarfaraz Khan started his cricket journey at the age of six, supported by his father Naushad. Upon Suryakumar Yadav’s suggestion, Sarfaraz’s father and mother attended his debut match at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. Witnessing Sarfaraz receive his India cap, both parents got very emotional. Sarfaraz embraced both of his parents emotionally after receiving the India cap.
Naushad said to TOI, “They were tears of happiness. I’ve seen a lot, both moments of sadness and happiness, but never cried before. This was a moment when any father would have turned emotional.’’
Ind vs Eng 3rd Test: Sarfaraz Khan fulfills father’s dream
“It was very nice. I came to the ground for the first time, I got the (India) cap, and my father was also there. I was 6 years old when he helped me start playing cricket. So it was just a dream that while he is alive, I want him to see me playing for the Indian team. It was my dream for him, so I liked it a lot.” Sarfaraz said while talking to the media in the post-match press conference.
“My father was not coming to the match first. After that, some people told him to go as this was a proud moment. So obviously, he had to come because he had worked so hard for this day. And he was also very emotional. My wife was also very emotional. It felt like I lost some weight from over my head. What he had worked on me for so many years, I didn’t let it get spoiled.”
Sarfaraz and his father’s diligent efforts made him successful when he smashed 62 runs from 66 balls while batting at number six.
Unfortunately, a misunderstanding with Ravindra Jadeja during their partnership resulted in Sarfaraz Khan being run out by Mark Wood at the non-striker’s end, abruptly ending his innings.
“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 that it is okay. It happens. There is nothing big in it.”
With India chose to bat first, lost three early wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal (10), Shubman Gill (0), and Rajat Patidar (5). Rohit Sharma and Jadeja formed a crucial fourth-wicket partnership, adding 204 runs to the scoreboard not only rescued India from a precarious situation but also asserted their dominance over England’s bowling attack. After Mark Wood dismissed Rohit Sharma, Sarfaraz initiated the innings with confidence, displaying a consistent ability to hit boundaries.
“I had been sitting for almost 4 hours padded up. So I was just thinking that I have kept so much patience in life, I’ll keep a little more. Then after that, I went inside, initially, I was a little nervous because it was my first time, but I had practiced and put in so much hard work that everything went well.”
“I felt a little strange in the first couple of overs. Because I was coming for the first time. And for so long, it was a dream to play. But later it felt like I had done this thing. When I went into the zone, I didn’t feel so difficult after that,” he added.
Read also:
India vs England 3rd Test: Rohit Sharma and Jadeja’s century, Sarfaraz Khan’s Half-century
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