Sarfaraz Khan, the Mumbai and India cricketer, admitted that his recent Ranji Trophy season has been difficult, but insisted he isn’t “frustrated at all.” He’s only managed 111 runs in four matches, averaging 22.20, and hasn’t scored a single fifty.
This marks a sharp contrast to his previous domestic seasons, where he piled up huge tallies: for instance, in 2022–23, he made 556 runs in six matches at an astonishing average of 92.66. Despite this slump, Sarfaraz believes his technique and work ethic remain solid — he feels there’s “nothing he needs to change” in his batting.
Confidence Amid Inconsistency
During a media interaction at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, Sarfaraz emphasized his commitment to practice. He said, “I have always played a lot of balls (in training) and even now I try to practice as much as I can.” He pointed out that even good batters can’t score big in every match. “One cannot score runs in every single match. … sometimes a batter loses his wicket despite playing well. But we can always get back to scoring runs,” he remarked. For him, the current lean patch is just part of the ups and downs of cricket.
He also underlined his overall body of work. “People have one season in four years where they make a thousand runs, but maine chaar-paanch saal daba ke runs banaye hain (I have made plenty of runs for 4-5 years),” he pointed out, defending his consistency over a longer time frame.
Team Support and Leadership
Sarfaraz didn’t just talk about his own game — he praised the support structure around him. He expressed his gratitude to Mumbai captain Shardul Thakur, calling him a selfless leader who “puts the team in front and himself behind.” According to Sarfaraz, even when the wicket doesn’t favor fast bowlers, Thakur prioritizes the team, sometimes choosing not to bowl himself.
He also lauded coaches Omkar Salvi and Atul Ranade, noting how they take everyone along and help build unity in the side. Highlighting the team’s bond, he said, “We try to stick together as much as we can; even if we are in Mumbai we stay in the team hotel… our unity is good.” This strong sense of togetherness, according to Sarfaraz, is one of the things that keeps him grounded and motivated even in challenging times.
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