Shardul Thakur backs Sarfaraz Khan (Source: @sarfarazkhan977/x.com, @SunRisers/x.com)
After years of stellar domestic performances, Mumbai’s Sarfaraz Khan finally made his Test debut for India against England last year. With every given opportunity, the batter proved his abilities on the big stage.
Even after consistent performance, he is absent from Team India’s Test squad for long as his recent snub from the India A squad sparked attention. While defending Sarfaraz Khan, his Mumbai teammate Shardul Thakur backed him for a mighty comeback.
Shardul Thakur defends Sarfaraz Khan
For years, Sarfaraz Khan has been an exciting talent in Mumbai’s cricketing circuit, who rose through the ranks quickly with his unreal cricketing abilities. Despite consistency over the years, Sarfaraz needed to wait for his Test debut till 2024. After making his debut against England in that year, he played his last Test in the same year against New Zealand.
After Team India suffered a whitewash against the Kiwis, Sarfaraz Khan was dropped from the squad as he missed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the Test series against England. His exclusion from India A’s tour against South Africa A sparked debate, and Mumbai captain Shardul Thakur defended him, saying Sarfaraz doesn’t need India A matches to prove his talent.
“Nowadays, for the India A side, they look at boys, who they want to prepare for international cricket. Sarfraz doesn't need an India A game to play international cricket. If he gets back to scoring again, he can straight away go and play Test series also,” Thakur said.
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Shardul Thakur hails Sarfaraz Khan as a true talent
Despite being overlooked in India’s senior side, Sarfaraz Khan dazzled in India A’s tour to England. As the Ranji Trophy returns with another new edition, Sarfaraz Khan scored 74 runs in two innings against Jammu and Kashmir. As Mumbai stepped into the next match, Shardul Thakur hailed Sarfaraz Khan’s effortless brilliance.
“He is a senior pro, and whenever we put him in there in the 22 yards, he is someone who always delivers in crunch situations. He has big scores of 200-250s, and those innings have come when the team was two or three down quite early in the innings. To play that kind of innings under pressure, you have to have something special in you,” he added.
After the ongoing white-ball series against Australia, Team India will face South Africa in a two-match Test series on home soil. Meanwhile, the ongoing Ranji Trophy could provide Sarfaraz Khan with the standout performances he needs to force his way back into the Test squad.
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