Follow UsSarfaraz Khan averaged nearly 70 in First class cricket at the time he made his debut. Even this debut wouldn’t have come if not for the plethora of injuries and absences plaguing the Indian team now.
However, leaving his dismissal aside, it was a day that started for Sarfaraz with his father kissing his Test cap while in tears and ended with Sarfaraz saying in the press conference, “I felt a burden lift off me. Whatever hard work my father has done for me, I’ve not let it go to waste.”
In India, parents' unfulfilled ambitions become their children’s destiny. So much so that both the child's and the parent’s life are consumed in its pursuit. The story of Sarfaraz, his father, Naushad Khan and his younger brother Musheer Khan has been well documented. A visibly emotional Sarfaraz told in the press conference how much this meant to him.
“My father had this dream to play for India. But our situation at home at that time wasn’t strong enough to support him. Then he thought that I’ll work hard on my kids. So he worked hard on me, and now he’s working on my brother [Musheer] as well.”
Sarfaraz also revealed that initially, his father wasn’t willing to come for his special day, but people around him finally convinced him.
“First, my dad wasn’t willing to come. But some people asked him to come as the first match is always a big deal and is a proud moment. Obviously, he had to come as he has done all the hard work for this day only. When I took the cap, my father was very emotional. My wife got emotional as well.”
“I was six since my father got me into cricket. It was my dream for him that I play for India while he’s alive. It felt really nice,” Sarfaraz said with palpable emotions in his eyes.
Sarfaraz’s debut Test also saw India losing three wickets quite early in the day, as Mark Wood and Tom Hartley sent back Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Rajat Patidar. India were 33/3 and in need of a big partnership. Sending the debutante Sarfaraz at that time would have been a big gamble as English bowlers were on top, and one more wicket would have meant India losing almost half their side in the first hour of a home Test.
Thankfully for India, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja combined to get a partnership of 204 runs. Meanwhile, Sarfaraz was waiting for almost four hours with his pads on. But it was nothing for the man who had waited years to bat for India in a Test.
“I was padded up for four hours. I was thinking that I have kept so much patience in life so far. I can keep it for a bit more. Then I went to bat. I was a bit nervous for one or two balls initially, but my practice and hard work have been good enough to help me do fine here.”
The Mumbai batter also talked about how Jadeja helped him during his nervy phase at the crease.
“I talked in at lunchtime with Jaddu bhai [Jadeja], who kept talking to me in the middle. I’m the kind of batter who loves to talk while batting and discuss what’s happening on the track and what’s not happening. It was my first time as well. So he supported me quite a lot during my batting.”
He went on to add, “He [Jadeja] tried to calm down my nerves when I came and tried a sweep shot but missed the ball due to turn. He just advised me to take my time on the ground, and then I'll understand what’s happening. I did that, and the runs started to come when I went in my zone and understood that it’s something that I’ve done a lot in the past.”
Sarfaraz took the English spinners to the cleaners after that nervy phase was over, and scored big shots against them straight down the ground and towards cow corner with a lot of ease. The confidence and comfort he exuded at the crease made him look like the best batter of the day.
“All the fielders were up when I came in to bat. They had an opportunity that there’s a new batter at the crease and might get out if he errs here. I also had an opportunity to score as the field was open, and I play spinners quite well. So whenever I got the opportunity, I smashed the ball with full freedom.”
However, despite batting so well and hitting ten boundaries with a lot of swagger, Sarfaraz was run out by Mark Wood due to a wrong call from Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja also took to his Instagram to apologise for the misunderstanding, but Sarfaraz didn’t mind it much that his debut innings was brought to a premature end in such a fashion.
“A bit of miscommunication happens. It’s part and parcel of the game. It keeps happening. It’s not a big thing, ” Sarfaraz said.
Naushad Khan’s son will get another opportunity in this game to make his debut Test even more special. As of now, he and his family can enjoy the feeling of having an Indian Test player in their family and a long-made promise being fulfilled.