'You Are A Champion' - Twitter Erupts In Joy As Sarfaraz Khan Brings His First Int'l Century
Sarfaraz Khan celebrates after the century (Source:@SPORTYVISHAL/x.com)
Sarfaraz Khan etched his name into the history books with a sparkling maiden Test century during the ongoing first Test between India and New Zealand at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The 26-year-old Mumbai batter’s gutsy knock came at a critical juncture for India, after a dismal first-innings performance left the team under immense pressure.
The match has been a roller-coaster ride for the hosts. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, India was skittled for a paltry 46 runs. New Zealand's seam attack, led by Tim Southee and Matt Henry, dismantled India's top order with alarming ease, plunging India into trouble on the very first day.
New Zealand responded in emphatic fashion, piling up a massive total of 402 runs, courtesy of Rachin Ravindra’s blistering 134 off 157 deliveries. New Zealand took a dominant first-innings lead of 356 runs.
Sarfaraz Khan Smashes A Brilliant Century In Bengaluru
India's second innings required nothing short of a miracle to save the game, and Sarfaraz Khan stepped up when the team needed him the most. After losing their openers, India’s middle order faced the daunting task of erasing the deficit. Sarfaraz entered at 62/2 and partnered with former captain Virat Kohli to inject some much-needed momentum into the innings.
He known for his aggressive yet calculated style, launched a counter-attack, smashing boundaries with ease. Together with Kohli, he kept the scoreboard ticking, adding vital runs to chip away at New Zealand’s imposing lead.
On the fourth day, Sarfaraz continued his attacking approach, and reached his century in just 110 balls with 13 fours and three towering sixes. His milestone was met with a raucous cheer from the Bengaluru crowd, celebrating not only his first international century but also his determination to keep India in the contest. In this article, let's take a look at how the fans reacted and appreciated the youngster for his brilliant knock.
Let's Take A Look At Some Twitter Reactions
Sarfaraz showcased his class with a mixture of elegant drives and powerful strikes. His century marks an important personal achievement, as he has been knocking on the doors of international cricket for several seasons with consistent performances in domestic cricket. This hundred, which took him seven innings to achieve, is likely to cement his place in the team’s middle order.