Star batter Sarfaraz Khan, who turned heads on his Test debut in Rajkot against England, is rumored to be in talks with either Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) or Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Although these reports are yet to be confirmed, but it has left everyone wondering and excited as to who will grab the coveted ‘Sarfaraz Khan’ deal ahead of IPL 2024. Sarfaraz Khan's standout performance in the third Test between India and England, which saw him cracking twin half-centuries on his debut highlighted his skill and composure and grabbed everyone's attention.
No franchise showed interest in Sarfaraz Khan in IPL 2024 auction
Notably, no franchise showed interest in Sarfaraz Khan in IPL 2024 auction in December. However, a recent article in the Bengali daily Anandabazar Patrika indicated that three teams are keen to acquire Sarfaraz, who remained unsold at a base price of INR 20 lakhs during the December auction.
KKR, CSK to land ‘Sarfaraz Khan’ deal?
The report mentions that KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir has recommended the franchise's management to include the 27-year-old to enhance their batting lineup, which features players such as Rinku Singh, Nitish Rana, Shreyas Iyer, Jason Roy, and Andre Russell, to name a few.
Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are considering adding Sarfaraz to their squad, with MS Dhoni endorsing the move. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is also vying for Sarfaraz, who has previously been part of the RCB squad for three IPL seasons from 2015 to 2018. During his time with RCB, Sarfaraz had limited opportunities to play in the starting XI, which included cricketing stalwarts like AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, and Virat Kohli.
Sarfaraz Khan's dream debut for India
Sarfaraz fell prey to a hapless run out at 68 runs during the first innings in the third Test against England, when he was well on his way to hit a century. Despite this setback, he made a remarkable comeback, scoring an unbeaten 62 against England's spinners in the second innings. His efforts contributed to a vital 172-run partnership with Jaiswal, aiding India in securing a 434-run victory.
Throughout his IPL career from 2015 to 2023, Sarfaraz has participated in 50 matches, amassing 585 runs, including one half-century. He was a part of the Punjab Kings squad from 2019 to 2021 before moving to the Delhi Capitals.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
After Virat Kohli welcomes baby boy 'Akaay', his photo on London streets goes viral
