After a year-long wait, Sarfaraz Khan finally received his maiden call-up to the Indian national team on January 29 for the ongoing Test series against England. The right-handed batsman, who has consistently performed well in domestic cricket, was selected as a replacement for the injured KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja. The second Test is set to begin on February 2 in Vishakhapatnam, and it is anticipated that either Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, or Rajat Patidar might make their debut, while Washington Sundar or Kuldeep Yadav could replace Jadeja. The cricket community, including social media, celebrated Sarfaraz Khan’s selection, with Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq extending his congratulations, expressing joy for his long-awaited national team opportunity on platform ‘X’, stating, “Congratulations, brother! So happy for you.”
Imam-ul-Haq Congratulates Sarfaraz Khan For India Call-Up
During the 2021/22 Ranji season, Sarfaraz Khan showcased exceptional form, emerging as the leading run-scorer with an impressive tally of 982 runs in six matches. His stellar performance included four centuries, with a notable 275 against Saurashtra, boasting an average of 122.75. Despite his outstanding contributions, Sarfaraz faced disappointment as he was initially overlooked for the Bangladesh tour in 2022. The anticipation for his inclusion continued into the home series against Australia, where he was once again ignored, despite scoring a century in the intra-squad practice match ahead of the Test series against South Africa.
Persistently delivering strong performances for India A, Sarfaraz Khan’s persistence paid off as he finally earned his maiden call-up to the Indian national team. Competing with Rajat Patidar for a spot in the playing XI in the second Test against England, Sarfaraz is poised for a potential debut. Another contender, Sourabh, who is yet to make his Test debut despite a call-up in 2022, will also be vying for a place. Washington Sundar, experienced across all formats, is another option.
The second Test of the five-match series between India and England is scheduled in Vizag from February 2 to 6. Having lost the first Test in Chennai during the 2021 season, India, aiming to maintain their unbeaten home Test series record since 2012, seeks a comeback in the series after a 1-0 deficit, with England led by Ben Stokes claiming victory in the opening match.
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