Sarfaraz Khan becomes first double centurion for Mumbai Cricket in Irani Cup. He scored 222 unbeaten in first innings against Rest Of India.
Remember the name, Sarfaraz Khan. The Mumbai cricketer knows just one way to bat, and that is by scoring runs. He recently became the first Mumbai player to score a double ton in the Irani Cup when he made 222 not out against the Rest of India to help his team post 537 in the first innings.
Coming to bat at No. 6, he posted a stand of 131 runs with Ajinkya Rahane (97). However, Mumbai were far from a safe total and needed Sarfaraz to bat as long as possible. And Sarfaraz is a pro at playing such innings. He stitched a stand of 183 for the seventh wicket with Tanush Kotian (64) to help Mumbai post a big total.
What was noteworthy about Sarfaraz’s knock was his free-flowing game, as he didn’t let the opposition dominate him. He attacked when needed, defended stoutly, and kept scoring at a strike rate of over 77. He smashed 25 fours and 4 sixes in his 286-ball knock.
He paced his innings well, making sure that the scoreboard kept on ticking. Twice, he combined with his teammates for a stand of over 100 in situations where Mumbai were still far away from a good total. His game awareness was excellent, and his hunger for runs was unmatchable.
The Stat-story
His batting stats speak volumes about his consistency and the hunger to score runs and make tall scores. Here is a look at his First-Class record. (Stats till 1st innings of Irani Cup match between Mumbai and Rest of India)
Match | Runs | Average | HS | 50s/100s |
51 | 4405 | 69.20 | 301* | 14/15 |
A look at his First-Class records shows his appetite for runs. He has converted more than half of his half-centuries into tons. Also, he is not the player who gets tired after scoring a ton but goes on to make big daddy tons. He has 10 scores of 150 or more out of a total of 15 tons. It includes four double tons. He has a highest score of 301 not out against Uttar Pradesh in the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy.
Read More: A Middle Order Dilemma: Sarfaraz Khan and Suryakumar Yadav's Quest for India's Test Squad
Currently, he is the fourth-best batter in terms of highest batting average in First-Class cricket. (Minimum 2000 runs and stats till 1st innings of Irani Cup match between Mumbai and Rest of India)
Player | Match | Runs | Average | 50s/100s |
Don Bradman | 234 | 28067 | 95.14 | 69/117 |
Vijay Merchant | 150 | 13470 | 71.64 | 52/45 |
Yashasvi Jaiswal | 27 | 3101 | 70.47 | 9/12 |
Sarfaraz Khan | 51 | 4405 | 60.20 | 14/15 |
Sarfaraz Khan: the competent batter
Sarfaraz Khan is not a player who relies on past laurels. Instead, he does what he knows best—score runs. It is on the back of this hunger for runs in domestic cricket that he broke open the door for Test selection. He made an immediate impact, scoring twin fifties on his Test debut. In three Tests against England, he has scored 200 runs at an average of 50 with three fifties.
He didn’t find a place in the Test series against Bangladesh, but that does not deter him from giving his best in any opportunity he receives in domestic cricket. His double ton in the Irani Cup shows his high work ethic. He does his job of scoring runs no matter the format, opposition, or situation. He just does what he knows best, and it is this consistency that separates Sarfaraz from other budding cricketers or discarded Test players who are looking to make a way back into the national team. The likes of Shreyas Iyer and Youngsters could learn a few things about consistency from Sarfaraz.
This double ton has also served as a reminder to the selectors about allowing him to play Test cricket again in the upcoming Test series against New Zealand at home. It also serves as a good competition for national selection and keeps other players on their toes as Sarfaraz is breathing down their neck with his consistency and run-making. The likes of KL Rahul will be under pressure as Sarfaraz looks more than handy at No. 6. It would be fair to test Sarfaraz in the New Zealand series ahead of the important Test series against Australia Down Under.
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