'He doesn't have a gym body but...': Ex-India cricketer passes verdict on Sarfaraz Khan's fitness

Sarfaraz Khan
Sarfaraz Khan

Highlights:

Sarfaraz Khan scored 150 runs in first Test against New Zealand.

Sarfaraz Khan made his Test debut against England.

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif reckoned that a player should not be kept out because of fitness after Sarfaraz Khan smashed his maiden Test century in the ongoing first Test match against New Zealand at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru

After getting out on a duck in the first inning, the batter scored 150 runs in the second innings which helped India to take the lead after getting bundled out for 46 in the first inning.

Indian players with duck and century in same Test

Players Scores Opposition Year
Madhav Apte 0, 163 West Indies 1953
Sunil Gavaskar 0, 118 Australia 1977
Dilip Vengsarkar 0, 103 England 1979
Mohammad Azharuddin 0, 109 Pakistan 1989
Sachin Tendulkar 0, 136 Pakistan 1999
Shikhar Dhawan 0, 114 New Zealand 2014
Virat Kohli 0, 104 Sri Lanka 2017
Shubman Gill 0, 119 Bangladesh 2024
Sarfaraz Khan 0, 150* New Zealand 2024

Sarfaraz was out of international cricket reportedly due to fitness despite scoring runs in the domestic circuit backed by Kaif. The former India cricketer took his 'X' (formerly known as Twitter) to hail Sarfaraz for his batting. 

"I have always maintained  Sarfraz shouldn't be kept out because of fitness. He doesn't have a gym body but can bat for hours. Cricket is a game that accomodates all" wrote Kaif. 

Sarfaraz made his Test debut during five Test match series against England where he scored 200 runs in five innings of his three Test outings. He made it to the playing XI after young batter Shubman Gill was unavailable due to a slight niggle in his neck. 

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