The much-awaited, much-delayed debut of Sarfaraz Khan for the Indian Test team finally happened on 15th February 2024 at Rajkot in the third Test against England. For years, cricket aficionados have believed that Sarfaraz is the future of Indian Test cricket team. But a series of events, the most significant one a statement from a BCCI official who declared in June 2023 that Sarfaraz will never play for India, for reasons that seem to no longer exist, kept delaying the inevitable.
Sarfaraz Khan emerged as a player with great potential in 2013 when he was first picked for the India under-19 (U-19) team. He debuted for Mumbai in 2014 and played IPL in 2015. In an era when one has to get noticed more in the IPL than other 'domestic' tournaments, Sarfaraz failed to pass the litmus test as he never had a knock of significance or a regular run with the three different franchisees he turned out for. Even though he was one of the three players retained by RCB in IPL-2017, he reportedly did not fit into skipper Kohli's fitness benchmarks. There was no one of significance in Indian cricket who gave him his back despite the promise that he showed, and which on getting an opportunity he has ultimately fulfilled. Interestingly, the Wisden Cricket Almanac had mentioned his name as far back as 2012 along with his brother Musheer's (who has shown he is no lesser a player with two hundreds in the 2024 U-19 World Cup) as players to watch out for. Sarfaraz to his credit has seven half-centuries in the 2014 and 2016 U-19 World Cups. While the likes of Prithvi Shaw and Shubhman Gill were fast-tracked into the Indian team, Sarfaraz wasn't. But with two 60s in his debut Test, Sarafraz is finally there. That it took him almost a decade to make it to the senior level also shows an immense quality in him - patience.
Sarfaraz Khan had to leave Mumbai and join U.P. in the 2015-16 season. When he returned to Mumbai in 2018, he was made to wait due to the one year cooling off period rule. In 2019-20, after sitting out of the playing eleven for the initial games, he scored prolifically in the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai. His immense form continued for the next two seasons as well. But the powers that be ensured he wasn't picked for India. After having been assured by the selection committee that he would be on the tour to Bangladesh in December 2022, only 15 players against the normal 16 were picked for the series. When Australia came to India for four-Test series in 2023, the selectors picked 17 players for a home series with Surya Kumar Yadav picked because he sweeps well. He played one Test and since then has done not much to prove even himself in ODIs.
In the past he has questioned the betrayal twice and when he went into a slump last year, the road seemed to have come to a dead end. But then he gave impressive performances against South Africa A and England Lions recently while playing for India A. He even got a breezy century in an intra-squad game in South Africa ahead of the Test series.
Players like Iyer and Ishan Kishan have got their chances in Tests due to their T20 and ODI form. Who would have noticed Yashasvi Jaiswal or Shubhman Gill if they hadn't scored big in the IPL?
A swallow doesn't make a summer. Sarfaraz Khan has just made his debut. There will be lesser opportunities once K L Rahul and Virat Kohli return to the Test team. Let us not forget how triple Test centurion Karun Nair was shunted out to make way for Rahane to return after injury. When Rahane lost his place in the team Hanuma Vihari came in as a substitute ahead of Nair who was in the original squad. Going forward, Sarfaraz holds the future of Indian cricket with other players like Yashasvi and Gill.
For me, personally, the Test debut of Sarfaraz was a personal wish come true. Watching his father kiss Sarfaraz's Test cap with tears streaming down his eyes, made me cry. That is a real motivational story. Long way to go.
Poat-script:
And now, interestingly, there is a buzz in the media that Sarfaraz Khan, who was released by Delhi Capitals ahead of the last IPL auctions in December 2023, could be picked by KKR for IPL 2024. The tail could finally wag the dog. It would be better that he signs up for an English County team to further hone his skills in tougher batting conditions than waste his time and energy in the energy-sapping heat of April-May in the IPL. Playing county games during that period would be more beneficial for him as well as India.
