Prominent IPL franchises eye Sarfaraz Khan after stellar Test debut
After years of domestic dominance, Sarfaraz Khan finally donned the India whites in the 3rd Test against England, and what a debut it was. His aggressive batting, marked by elegant strokeplay and powerful sixes, stole the show in Rajkot.
In the first innings, his 62 off 66, the joint-fastest fifty by an Indian debutant, was a joy to watch. Then again, in the second innings, he played another fantastic knock- an unbeaten 68, laced with six boundaries and three sixes, which cemented his place as a talent to watch.
Twin fifties on debut, reminiscent of legends like Gavaskar, put him in an elite club. His composure against spin, a nemesis for many young batsmen, was particularly impressive. The maturity he displayed belied his 26 years, a testament to years of honing his skills.
Fans were delighted as it had been a long wait for the Mumbai batter despite plundering runs regularly in the domestic circuit. Sarfaraz Khan‘s name had become synonymous with domestic dominance.
However, ardent fans of the game remember him lighting up the scene long before. A 17-year-old Sarfaraz outshone the likes of Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, and AB de Villiers while playing for RCB. The audacity of his sixes and the fluency of his strokeplay stunned everyone, even earning a rare bow from Kohli.
An IPL comeback on the cards?
However, his progression took a hit and his disappearance was as quick as his rise. But now, after an impressive Test debut, he is undoubtedly back in the spotlight. Despite remaining unsold at the IPL 2024 auction, it is learned that Khan has garnered interest from three major franchises: Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
However, a return to the marquee tournament will not be straightforward as he can only be picked by a team in case an incumbent player gets injured or withdraws his name. As such, Sarfaraz will have to wait. It won’t be something new for him though, as he said in a recent interview as he had to wait for a long time even for his Test debut. This wait though, might not be long because in a tournament as big and long as the IPL, injuries are regular occurrences and hence, Sarfaraz may get a call soon.
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