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India Skipper Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja made classical Test match hundreds while debutant Sarfaraz Khan announced his arrival on the big stage with a fluent half-century as India reached 326 for five at stumps on day one of the third Test against England at Rajkot.
With India reduced to 33 for three inside the first hour of play, Rohit (131 off 196) and Jadeja (110 batting off 212) steered the ship through choppy waters with a 204-run partnership.
After the pair was separated, Sarfaraz (62 off 66) scored the joint fastest fifty by an Indian on debut to push India past the 300-run mark before he was tragically run out following a mix-up with Jadeja.
All that Sarfaraz Khan wanted since the beginning of his cricket journey as a six-year-old was to become an international player in front of his father. Two decades later, that dream came true for the Mumbaikar when he was handed his Test cap.
Naushad Khan, Sarfaraz’s ‘proud’ father and mentor, could not control his tears after the middle-order batter received his India cap from the great Anil Kumble.
In No Time!
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“Earlier when I used to put in a lot of hardwork (on Sarfaraz), I used to think that why my dream doesn’t become a reality. But after getting the Test cap my thoughts have changed for all kids who are working.
“Raat ko wakht do guzarne ke liye, suraj apni hi samay pe niklega (Give time for the night to end, the sun will rise at its own time),” Naushad said.
Sarfaraz said “I had tears in my ears thinking every time that I will get a call now, I will get a call now. My abbu (father) just told me one thing keep on working hard, no one can stop you. I feel it is very important to have believe and patience,” Sarfaraz had said on the sidelines of the second Test.
“I saw a dream that my India A team-mates are congratulating me. It’s a proud moment to get into the Indian team from a population of 1.25 crore. More than me, I am happy for my abbu (father).”
Before the start of the Third Test, India handed debuts to middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan, 26, a heavy scorer in domestic cricket for Mumbai, and wicket-keeper batter Dhruv Jurel, 23, who replaces K S Bharat in the playing eleven.
