NEW DELHI: Rising Indian cricketer Sarfaraz Khan has rejoined Team India just a day after becoming a father to a baby boy, making this week one of the most memorable of his life.
The talented batter, who missed the team’s practice session on Tuesday to spend time with his family, returned to training on the optional day ahead of the crucial second Test against New Zealand in Pune on Thursday.
This emotional moment comes on the heels of Sarfaraz’s stellar performance in the first Test, where he notched up a brilliant 150 in a rain-interrupted match in Bengaluru.
Playing in just his fourth Test since making his debut, Sarfaraz called his maiden century a “dream come true”.
While Sarfaraz’s brilliant form has boosted his case, the team management faces a tough decision ahead of the second Test.
KL Rahul, who endured a disappointing outing in Bengaluru with scores of 0 and 12, is under scrutiny. His struggles in the middle order contributed to India’s collapse, leading to an eventual 8-wicket defeat.
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Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate addressed the selection conundrum, revealing that head coach Gautam Gambhir is inclined to give Rahul more opportunities.
“Yeah, there’s no point in sugarcoating it, there’s a fight for a spot,” said ten Doeschate on Tuesday. “Sarfaraz was obviously brilliant in the last Test. I went to KL after the last Test (and) said how many balls do you play at (and) miss at? He didn’t play at (and) miss at one ball and that’s what tends to happen when you’re not getting runs.”
“There’s certainly no concerns about KL, he’s batting nicely, he’s in a good mental space. But we are certainly going to have to fit seven pieces into six spots for this Test and look at the pitch now and decide what’s going to be best for the team. Gauti [Gautam Gambhir] is keen to give him a long rope like Sanju [Sanju Samson],” he added.
Rahul will be eager to bounce back, knowing that his performance could shape India’s prospects in the three-match series.
With Sarfaraz hungry to cement his place and Rahul determined to turn things around, the stage is set for a riveting second Test in Pune as India look to level the three-match series.