Sarfaraz Khan's Father's Admirable Patience Over Son's India Test Debut is Truly Inspiring

Sarfaraz Khan’s father was undoubtedly over the moon as he witnessed his son’s Test debut during India’s third match against England in Rajkot on Thursday. It was a dream that the father had cherished and nurtured, and finally, the son had brought it to fruition after years of relentless hard work, dedication, and countless remarkable batting displays. In fact, when Anil Kumble presented Sarfaraz with the cap, the first thing the right-handed batsman did was rush towards his father. With tears streaming down his cheeks, Naushad Khan accepted the cap from his son and reverently kissed the badge on it.

However, that wasn’t the only instance showcasing the father’s admirable and inspiring patience for this long-awaited day!

The true testament to his patience came when he graced the commentary box and was questioned by commentator Aakash Chopra, “Did you wait for too long to see Sarfaraz Khan making his debut?” To this, Mr. Khan responded gracefully, “Raat ko waqt chahiye guzarne ke liye, lekin Suraj meri marzi se nahi nikalne wala (It takes time for the night to pass but the sun is not going to rise according to my wish).”

Indeed, it took three outstanding Ranji Trophy seasons where Sarfaraz effortlessly scored centuries, briefly challenging Don Bradman’s first-class average, and later delivering a spectacular 150+ for India A against the touring England Lions side, before finally earning his Test cap.

Despite these remarkable achievements, Sarfaraz was never the primary choice for the middle-order position. He was omitted from India’s squad for last year’s home series against Australia, and the oversight persisted even when the initial squad for the first two Tests against England was announced. Even with Virat Kohli’s withdrawal, Sarfaraz remained overlooked, with Rajat Patidar getting the nod as a replacement.

It was only when KL Rahul sustained an injury after the first Test that the 26-year-old finally received his maiden call-up as a replacement.

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And through it all, the father patiently awaited the rise of his son, akin to the sun, which eventually came to pass! Sarfaraz rose to the occasion in Rajkot’s Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, making his mark by scoring a half-century in just 48 balls at a staggering strike rate of 104.2, matching Hardik Pandya’s record for the fastest fifty by an Indian batsman on Test debut.

Meanwhile, in the match, Ravindra Jadeja has carved out a remarkable century in 204 balls after captain Rohit Sharma’s brilliant 131-run innings led the charge. Despite the early setbacks from the England pacers and Tom Hartley chipping in with a wicket, a resilient 204-run partnership between Rohit and Jadeja has brought the hosts back into the game. Earlier, India’s skipper Rohit won the toss and elected to bat first.

Check IND vs ENG Live Score 3rd Test Day 1 Here.