After toiling relentlessly in domestic cricket for several years, Sarfaraz Khan finally seized the opportunity to debut for the national team during the third Test against England in Rajkot. Witnessing this momentous occasion, his father Naushad Khan and wife Romana Zahoor couldn’t contain their emotions, shedding tears of joy as their long-cherished dream was realized when Anil Kumble presented Sarfaraz with his debut cap.
What adds an intriguing layer to Sarfaraz’s journey is the significance behind his jersey number, ’97’. This number has adorned his attire since his under-19 days, a tradition he shares with his brother Musheer Khan, who recently represented India in the U19 World Cup. Sarfaraz has disclosed that the number holds special meaning as it pays homage to his father, Naushad, a distinguished coach in the domestic cricket circuit. Naushad’s name is a clever amalgamation of the Hindi numerals for nine (nau) and seven (saat), hence, the number 97 serves as a tribute to his father.
The third Test match saw a rocky start for India, with key batsmen like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rajat Patidar departing early, leaving the team struggling at 33/3. However, captain Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja orchestrated a remarkable recovery, forging a crucial 204-run partnership. Rohit’s innings came to an end at 131 runs when he mistimed a pull shot off Mark Wood.
Sarfaraz Khan’s entry onto the field injected a new energy into the game as he showcased an aggressive style of play, putting the English bowlers on the back foot. With a brisk 62 runs off just 66 deliveries, he provided valuable support to Jadeja. Unfortunately, a miscommunication with Jadeja led to his run-out, leaving both him and Rohit visibly disappointed.
Despite these setbacks, India concluded Day 1 on a positive note, reaching a total of 326/5, with Jadeja unbeaten on 110* runs, accompanied by Kuldeep Yadav. The day’s events underscored Sarfaraz’s promising talent and the resilience of the Indian team in the face of adversity.
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