Sarfaraz Khan's Bittersweet Debut: Miscommunication and Missed Opportunity

In this third Test, Team India's decision to push veteran player Ravindra Jadeja to No. 5 and keep back Sarfaraz Khan proved to be successful. As the surface was ideal for batting, Sarfaraz entered the game and seemed to have a great opportunity of making his debut with a three-figure score thanks to his commanding batting, while Jadeja and teammate centurion Rohit Sharma withstood the early storm during their fourth-wicket partnership.

However, with senior partner Jadeja at99, both batsmen were very nervous at one point, which caused Sarfaraz to be run out by Mark Wood's straight throw at the non-striker's end.


It goes without saying that the 26-year-old was devastated to lose out on such a fantastic chance to score his first hundred runs. Nonetheless, he is careful not to extrapolate from what was only "a miscommunication, which is a part and parcel of the game."

In cricket, miscommunication does occur. It doesn't always happen that there is a run out. These all occur in cricket. In his conversation with media after the conclusion of the first day of the third Test, Sarfaraz expressed it in this way.

Later, Jadeja shared his emotions on Instagram Story, writing, "I'm feeling awful for @sarfarazkhan97." I made the incorrect call; excellent play.

Sarfaraz, who shown purpose and aggressiveness during his 66-ball stint in the middle, was more interested in emphasizing the kind of connection he had with Jadeja during their 77-run fifth-wicket combination than he was in dwelling on his regrettable departure.

"I requested Jadeja to chat to me while he was playing when I talked to him over lunch. I like having conversations while playing. It was also my first time playing cricket internationally.

"So I said to him, 'Please continue talking to me while I play.'" Sarfaraz emphasized, "He continued doing it and helped me all the way through.

The race for a middle order permanent spot will only become more intense if Sarfaraz continues to impress in the second innings. The selectors believed that now was the ideal moment to include him since he was playing well for India 'A' against the England Lions.

Presstime was informed by a BCCI insider that "mind you, if Sarfaraz continues to do well, there could be serious pressure on some bigger names."

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