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26-year-old Sarfaraz Khan was handed his Test cap by legendary Indian spinner Anil Kumble for the Rajkot Test. An in-form Sarfaraz walked into the side as KL Rahul was yet to regain full fitness after complaining of pain in his right quadriceps following the Hyderabad Test.
As Sarfaraz got his debut cap, his father Naushad got emotional and tried to hide his face with his sweatshirt. Later, Sarfaraz went to his father and showed him his Test cap. Naushad kissed the cap and hugged his son. Sarfaraz hugged his wife and showed her the cap as well. Then he wiped his wife’s tears.
Along with Sarfaraz, Dhruv Jurel got his maiden Test cap as well. Jurel replaced wicketkeeper-batter Srikar Bharat who has been struggling for form on the international stage.
Sarfaraz was picked in the side after a match-winning 161 for India A against England Lions last month. He was picked for the second Test in Visakhapatnam but warmed the benches. After Shreyas Iyer was dropped from the side, Sarfaraz got a chance in India’s middle-order against Ben Stokes-led England.
The Mumbai-born batter has scored 3,912 runs from 45 first-class appearances at an average of 69.85. He has 14 centuries and 11 half-centuries to his name.
How Sarfaraz got to know about his maiden Test call-up
Sarfaraz got his maiden Test call-up when he was ready to join the Mumbai squad to play in the Ranji Trophy.
"I was getting ready to play in the Ranji Trophy and had kept my bags packed. Suddenly I got the call and got to know I was selected. I didn't believe it in the beginning."
"My father was at our native place, I called him and he turned emotional too. Everyone at home was happy and became emotional," Sarfaraz said in a video posted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on its website earlier this month.
Sarfaraz's father has played a vital role in his development as a cricketer. While Sarfaraz joined the Test squad, his younger brother Musheer Khan played in the Under-19 World Cup 2024 scoring two centuries.
"My father introduced me to cricket, and I always wondered why am I even playing. I am an attacking batsman and I used to get out sooner than others and scoring big runs was getting difficult.
"It was disheartening to see others succeed while I wouldn't be among the runs. But my dad always believed in hard work, and everything I have is a result of that work," he said.
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