Sarfaraz Khan felt disheartened while India's captain Rohit Sharma tossed his cap against the door after the young batter was run out for 62 runs on his Test debut against England at the Niranjan Shah Cricket Stadium on February 15. The crowd in Rajkot witnessed a mix of emotions before local favourite Ravindra Jadeja reached his fourth Test century on the opening day of the third Test match between India and England.
Jadeja's superb century was somewhat overshadowed by the run-out of debutant Sarfaraz Khan, who had played an impressive inning of 62 runs off just 66 balls. The incident happened when Jadeja, batting on 99, pushed the ball towards mid-on and called for a risky single. Sarfaraz responded, but found himself stranded midway as Jadeja hesitated and then decided against taking the run, resulting in Sarfaraz's dismissal due to a direct hit from Mark Wood.
Despite Jadeja's remarkable achievement, the mood at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium became subdued. Indian captain Rohit Sharma showed clear signs of being upset with the run-out incident, which went against his emphasis on sustaining pressure on the opposition. Fans expressed disappointment over Sarfaraz Khan's situation and held Ravindra Jadeja responsible for his dismissal in Rajkot. Jadeja was at 84 runs when Sarfaraz began his innings, and the young batter swiftly scored a fiery 62 before the all-rounder reached his century.
This is how fans reacted
Jadeja was involved in run-out situations
Sarfaraz Khan's dream debut
Sarfaraz displayed remarkable skill in handling the England spinners—Joe Root, Tom Hartley, and Rehan Ahmed—as he effortlessly timed the ball and accumulated runs. His fifty came quickly, highlighted by a memorable moment at 43 when he confidently stepped down the track to hit a straight six off Hartley, followed by a delicate shot towards the leg side to complete his milestone in just 48 deliveries.
Sarfaraz's innings spanned 66 balls, during which he struck nine fours and one six. His debut fifty was achieved in only 48 balls, marking it as the second-fastest after Hardik Pandya accomplished the feat in 2017 against Sri Lanka. India ended Day 1 at 326 for 5, in a strong position but overshadowed by the unfortunate misunderstanding that led to the dismissal of a promising young talent.
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