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Sarfaraz Khan To Get Maiden Test Cap Along With Another Debutant In Rajkot Test - Report

Kashish Chadha

image-lsjygzhoSarfaraz Khan [X.com]

The destiny seems aligned towards Sarfaraz Khan's maiden Test match appearance for India in the third Test against England in Rajkot, starting Thursday (February 11). 

The long wait is finally over for the prolific Mumbai right-hander as middle-order batter KL Rahul's persistent injury absence clears the deck for his first appearance at the international stage.

Rahul's absence for the second consecutive Test was confirmed by the BCCI on Monday (February 12), with the elegant batter still only 90% recovered from his quadriceps pain. Fellow Karnataka player Devdutt Padikkal has been called as Rahul's replacement for the third Test. 

Padikkal, however, is behind Sarfaraz in the hierarchy and will therefore warm the bench unless there is another injury on the eve of the fixture. Sarfaraz, who had broken the door down with a tremendous run for Mumbai, can expect to receive his Test cap on the morning of the match.

Sarfaraz To Make Debut Along With Jurel?

The extravagant right-hander with a naturally attacking game has an eye-catching first-class record. Sarfaraz averages nearly 70 in red-ball cricket after 45 matches, with 14 centuries next to his name.

He appears set to take up one of the No.4 or No.5 slots in the middle-order, with previous Test's debutant Rajat Patidar taking up the other in a heavily understrength and inexperienced Indian batting line-up, missing also Virat Kohli, Rahul, Rishabh Pant with the selectors inclined to move past Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.

Sarfaraz might not be the only debutant playing the Rajkot Test as the Times of India reported there is a strong likelihood of young wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel replacing the struggling KS Bharat.