Sarfaraz Khan becomes 3rd Indian batter after Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and Sachin Tendulkar to achieve rare feat in Tests for India

26-year-old Sarfaraz Khan on October 19 scripted history as India made a miraculous comeback in the first Test against New Zealand at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. Sarfaraz became the third Indian batter to score 150 or more runs at no.4 in the third innings of a Test match. 

Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi is the only Indian batter to score a double century at no.4 in the third innings of a Test. The former Indian captain scored unbeaten 203 against England in Delhi in 1964. Legendary Sachin Tendulkar achieved the feat twice. In 1998, he scored an unbeaten 155 against Australia in Chennai. Four years later, he scored 176 against West Indies at Eden Gardens. 

Tendulkar also had the record for highest score by a no.4 Indian batter in the third innings of a Test against New Zealand. He scored an unbeaten 126 against New Zealand in Mohali in 1999. 

Sarfaraz breaks Gavaskar’s record in Bengaluru

Sarfaraz also registered the highest score by an Indian batter in the third innings of a Test at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. Only two Indian batters had a century in the third innings of a Test at the venue. Legendary Sunil Gavaskar was the first with an unbeaten 103 against Pakistan in 1983. In 2000, former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin scored 102 against South Africa. 

ALSO READ: After 38 innings, Shreyas Iyer finally ends century drought in first-class cricket with Suryakumar Yadav on other end; watch video

The Mumbai batter missed breaking a nearly 50-year-old record held by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd. The Caribbean batter scored 163 runs in the third innings of a Test against India in Bengaluru.

ALSO READ: Sarfaraz Khan shouts and jumps like Javed Miandad as Rishabh Pant doesn't listen to his call in terrible mix-up; watch viral video

He also joined a long list of Indian batters who have registered a duck and scored a century in the same Test. In addition, he became the second Indian batter after former opener Shikhar Dhawan to do it against New Zealand.

Sarfaraz’s crucial partnerships

The prolific run-scorer in domestic cricket got a chance to play in the first Test as Shubman Gill was unfit. After a duck in the first innings, he scored 150 runs from 195 balls including 18 fours and three sixes. He shared a game-changing 177-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Rishabh Pant. Earlier, on Day 3, he shared a 136-run partnership for the third wicket with Virat Kohli who scored 70 runs from 102 balls.