Cricket

Sarfaraz Khan Achieves Milestone with Maiden Test Century Against New Zealand

In a remarkable display of resilience and skill, Sarfaraz Khan has joined an elite group of Indian cricket legends, including Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virat Kohli, by scoring his maiden Test century in only his fifth Test match against New Zealand. Resuming his innings on Day 4 with a score of 70, Sarfaraz went on to secure a stunning 125 runs off 154 balls, showcasing his ability to handle challenging conditions and pressure.

Khan’s innings played a pivotal role as India sought to respond to New Zealand’s first innings total. Together with Rishabh Pant, who contributed a brisk 53 runs, the pair formed an impressive partnership, amassing 113 runs for the fourth wicket in just 22 overs. Their performance not only steadied the Indian innings but also provided a much-needed boost after a dismal first innings where India was bowled out for a mere 46 runs.

What makes Sarfaraz’s achievement even more significant is the context: he became the ninth Indian cricketer to score a century in the second innings after being dismissed for a duck in the first innings of the same Test match. This rare feat places him among cricketing greats who have faced similar challenges:

Madhav Apte – 0 and 163 (Vs West Indies, 1953)
Sunil Gavaskar – 0 and 118 (Vs Australia, 1977)
Dilip Vengsarkar – 0 and 103 (Vs England, 1979)
Mohammad Azharuddin – 0 and 109 (Vs Pakistan, 1989)
Sachin Tendulkar – 0 and 136 (Vs Pakistan, 1999)
Shikhar Dhawan – 0 and 114 (Vs New Zealand, 2014)
Virat Kohli – 0 and 104 (Vs Sri Lanka, 2017)

This extraordinary performance also marks Sarfaraz’s 16th century in first-class cricket, a testament to his prolific run-scoring ability. Notably, he has previously scored ten centuries of 150 runs or more, including four double centuries, with his latest double hundred being an unbeaten 222 for Mumbai in the Irani Cup earlier this month.

Reflecting on Sarfaraz’s impactful knock, Indian captain Rohit Sharma shared insights about the batting order. Despite discussions about promoting KL Rahul to number three due to Shubman Gill’s injury, the management opted to retain Sarfaraz in his usual position to ensure consistency in the batting lineup.

As Sarfaraz Khan walks in the footsteps of cricket legends, his maiden Test century not only marks a personal milestone but also serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring cricketers in India, reinforcing the idea that perseverance can lead to success on the grandest stage of all—Test cricket.

image credit:www.indiatvnews.com

Akansha Chaturvedi