- Sarfaraz Khan, making his Test debut for India, impresses with half-centuries in both innings.
- Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s decision to shuffle the batting order, sending Sarfaraz in earlier for quick runs, pays off.
- Despite Ravindra Jadeja’s stellar performance, Sarfaraz’s aggressive batting style earns him praise and likely secures his spot in the team for future matches.
In India’s massive win against England, Ravindra Jadeja and Yashasvi Jaiswal were the stars, but newcomer Sarfaraz Khan also shone brightly.
Making his Test debut at 26, Sarfaraz impressed with half-centuries in both innings, scoring 62 off 66 balls in the first innings and an unbeaten 68 off 72 balls in the second. His aggressive style of play added power to India’s batting lineup.
In the first innings, Sarfaraz had to wait to bat as Ravindra Jadeja was promoted ahead of him when India were 33/3. This move was understandable as India didn’t want to lose another wicket early on.
However, after a solid partnership between Jadeja and Rohit Sharma, Sarfaraz got his chance to showcase his attacking game. In the second innings, India sent Sarfaraz in earlier for quick runs, ahead of Jadeja.
Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, explained the decision to shuffle the batting order, stating they wanted the left-right batting combination and believed Sarfaraz had the experience and talent to make an impact. He clarified that the decision wasn’t fixed for the long term but depended on various factors like the opposition and the bowling attack.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri questioned Rohit’s decision, suggesting that Sarfaraz should have been sent in at No.5 to test his abilities in Test cricket. However, Jadeja’s century in the first innings proved the decision somewhat right.
Despite Jadeja winning the Player of the Match award for his century and five-wicket haul, Sarfaraz’s performance was equally commendable. Displaying confidence and aggression reminiscent of Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz dominated the spinners and hit four sixes across both innings. His strong showing likely secured his place in the Indian middle order for the upcoming Tests in Ranchi and Dharamsala.