Emotions ran high at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot just moments before the commencement of the third Test between India and England. Sarfaraz Khan was bestowed with his Test cap by the esteemed former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble, mere minutes before captain Rohit Sharma strode out for the toss.
As Kumble delivered a brief address, the Indian team members erupted in applause and encouragement for the young talent from Mumbai, while Sarfaraz’s father, Naushad, standing on the sidelines, couldn’t contain his overwhelming emotions.
Upon receiving the cap from Kumble, Sarfaraz’s immediate instinct was to rush towards his father. Tears welled up in Naushad’s eyes as he accepted the cap from his son, tenderly kissing the emblem adorning it. It was a dream cherished by the father, nurtured over years of hard work and dedication, now realized through his son’s remarkable batting prowess.
Sarfaraz gently wiped the tears from his father’s cheek and embraced him tightly, displaying remarkable composure despite the overwhelming moment. He knew that this was just the beginning of his journey.
After three remarkable Ranji Trophy seasons, during which Sarfaraz displayed a penchant for scoring centuries and briefly challenged Don Bradman’s first-class average, as well as a dazzling 150+ against the England Lions for India A, his selection as a middle-order batsman was never straightforward.
Despite his stellar performances, he was initially overlooked for India’s home series against Australia and even when injuries prompted squad changes, he was still not considered.
Wholesome moments in Rajkot ❤️🥺
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) February 15, 2024
How excited are you to see Sarfaraz Khan & Dhruv Jurel 🧤 in the 3rd #INDvENG Test?#BazBowled #JioCinemaSports #TeamIndia #IDFCFirstBankTestSeries pic.twitter.com/r7VLxGTBxT
It was only after KL Rahul’s injury following the first Test against England that Sarfaraz, at 26 years old, finally earned his maiden call-up as a replacement. His opportunity arose when selectors grew impatient with Shreyas Iyer’s form, and Rahul’s fitness remained uncertain for the third Test.