Sarfaraz Khan Brings Domestic Flair Into International Arena With An Aggressive Hundred
Sarfaraz Khan after scoring his first Test Hundred [Source: Screen grab from @Jiocinema/x.com]
India is up against New Zealand in the first Test of the three-match series at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Batting first in the game after winning the toss, India came up with a dismal show and was bundled out for just 46 runs in the first innings.
In reply, New Zealand piled up 402 runs and took a massive lead of 356. Their effort was led by Rachin Ravindra, who scored a dazzling 134 off 157 balls.
The pressure was on India to overhaul the massive lead and then put a formidable target on the board to challenge the visitors in the last innings of the match. The Indian team approached aggressively to go past the New Zealand score as soon as possible. After the first two wickets fell, Sarfaraz Khan walked out into the middle and showed great flair.
His partnership with Virat Kohli opened a slim window for India in the game. Even after Kohli's dismissal, Sarafaraz continued batting aggressively. Coming out to bat on Day 4, the right-handed batter continued playing his shots and brought up his Hundred off just 110 deliveries. Notably, this is the first Hundred for Sarfaraz in Test cricket.
How crucial is Sarafaraz Khan's century?
Sarfaraz Khan walked out to bat when India was positioned at 95/2. It was essential for the young batter to show some resilience and allow Kohli to get into his stride. Sarfaraz took the attack on the opposition and laid the foundations for a dramatic Indian comeback into the game.
For India, the young batter must stretch his knock as long as possible and help the team set a formidable target for the visitors.
Sarfaraz Khan's domestic form
Notably, Sarfaraz Khan has been in a brilliant form in the domestic arena for the past three to four years. He scored a brilliant 222* off 286 deliveries in the recently concluded Irani Trophy helping Mumbai win the trophy. The flair, form and brilliance the young man has shown in the domestic arena has been translated to the highest level of the game with this classic knock.