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Sarfaraz Khan recently shared a humorous anecdote about a miscommunication with Rishabh Pant during the fourth day of the first Test against New Zealand. He explained that he denied a run because he remembered Pant had been experiencing knee pain.
The duo of Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant played a crucial role in India's comeback in the second innings. Their impressive 177-run partnership helped India take the lead in the match. Both batsmen displayed aggressive and skillful batting, dominating the New Zealand bowlers with their attacking play. They were equally adept against both spin and pace, showcasing their versatility. After getting bundled out for a lowly 46 in their first essay, India ended up posting 462 runs in the second innings while replying to New Zealand's 402. But despite their colossal second innings score, New Zealand were handed an easy 107-run target to win the first Test.
Coming back to the mix-up between Sarfaraz and Pant, a close call occurred during India's second innings when the duo was involved in a near-miss run-out. In the 56th over, Sarfaraz played a cut shot towards deep backward point and immediately called for a double run. While he sprinted quickly for the first run, Pant seemed hesitant. Realizing the danger, Sarfaraz quickly changed his mind and signaled to Pant to return to the crease.
The amusing part of the incident was Sarfaraz's exaggerated gesture of denial. As Pant continued to watch the ball, Sarfaraz hilariously jumped and waved his arms to convey his intention. Fortunately, Pant reacted swiftly and returned to the crease, narrowly avoiding a potential run-out.
Sarfaraz Khan explains mix-up incidence with Rishabh Pant
Later, Sarfaraz explained that the mix-up was due to Pant's knee injury. They had agreed to run cautiously to avoid any further risk. Sarfaraz's quick thinking and timely intervention saved the day for India.
"Rishabh had taken a blow on his knee so we had this discussion that we will run carefully. I had called 2 initially but then remembered he was having knee pain. Thank God he survived that," Sarfaraz said in the post-day press conference.
The partnership between Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan was a crucial factor in India's comeback. The duo combined to score a massive 177-run stand, which helped India gain a significant lead. Sarfaraz explained that he was keen to give Pant more strike, as the wicketkeeper-batter was in excellent form and scoring runs freely.
Sarfaraz remains optimistic about India's chances of winning the match. He believes that the pitch is offering assistance to the spinners, and if India can take early wickets, they can put pressure on the New Zealand batting lineup.
"Just that runs score freely. We were having good conversation. I wanted to give him singles as we know what he can do. It is not an easy wicket. We are still in the game. The ball is turning. If we can get 2-3 quick wickets, then NZ will have some troubles," he added.
Sarfaraz played a brilliant innings, scoring 150 runs off 195 balls. His strike rate of 77 and his ability to hit 18 fours and 3 sixes showcased his batting prowess. Pant, on the other hand, was unfortunate to miss out on a well-deserved century. He scored 99 runs off 105 balls, hitting 9 fours and 5 sixes. Despite his valiant effort, he fell short of the milestone.
