Former Coaches and Selectors Weigh In on the Young Batsman's Performance and Potential

There was a boom and a slump. Following two brilliant half-centuries on his international debut in Rajkot earlier this month, Sarfaraz Khan struggled in the next Test in Ranchi, managing only 14 runs.

The 26-year-old didn't seem to be at ease on a difficult track against England's tweakers, off-spinner Shoaib Bashir and left-armer Tom Hartley, who both got rid of him in the fourth Test, which India won to complete the five-match series.

However, Sarfaraz felt that the midway time out was insufficient. In the first innings, he had edged a turning-away delivery from Hartley to slip, but in the second, Bashir's bowling claimed him in the first ball. Sarfaraz attempted to defend, but he was far from the ball's pitch. He was hitting a knee-roll when the ball got a small edge off his bat and floated up to the fielder at short leg.

Critics may as well use these two dismissals to draw attention to his worries about worn tracks or surfaces that aren't the best for batting. However, wouldn't it be premature to draw inferences from a single subpar game?

However, those who have closely seen Sarfaraz and have some knowledge of him don't seem to be very concerned. They have a good feeling that this quiet phase won't continue long.

"It wouldn't be reasonable to judge him after one bad game. He wants to score runs and is a positive batter.

You'll see that he plays near to his body as well. Whether facing quicks or spinners, he always plays late. Thus, his return with runs is just a matter of time. Perhaps in the actual game that follows. Sarfaraz returned to the Mumbai squad (from Uttar Pradesh) in 2019, so he's very fixed, so he'll definitely make up, former Mumbai coach Vinayak Samant told The Telegraph from Dubai on Monday.

"I don't believe that Sarfaraz has any technical flaws," said Jatin Paranjape, a former national selector. "He just has to adjust to the intensity of a Test match, which involves handling pressure and challenging circumstances.

"Once he has played six-seven Tests, you'll see him react much better to these situations when he again comes across them."

Not only did the middle-order batsman's performance in the fourth Test not raise many red flags for the team management and selectors, but he also couldn't have scored so many runs for India 'A' if his technique wasn't up to par.

"In Rajkot, we saw his outstanding play. All he has to do is perform well under duress, which he will do the more he plays. Without a doubt, the squad and the selectors would support him wholeheartedly," a BCCI spokesperson said.

Sarfaraz will have another chance to make amends and gain some more mileage to solidify his spot in the team if he is selected for the starting XI for the final Test, which is scheduled to start on Thursday in Dharamsala. He obviously has to strengthen his defense and fine-tune his technique a little, much like the other young batters on the team.

To predict whether Sarfaraz will be included in the team for the Australia trip later this year is still a little too early. However, when India hosts Bangladesh and New Zealand for two and three Test matches in September and October, respectively, he ought to have enough opportunity to establish his credentials.

"With someone like (head coach) Rahul Dravid in the Indian team dressing room, Sarfaraz would benefit greatly from the information transfer. Indeed, that changing room is a great location to learn right now, according to Paranjape.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Press Time staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.