Sarfaraz Khan continues white-ball resurgence; delivers hard-hitting 157(75) for Mumbai against Goa

Sarfaraz Khan’s white-ball revival gathers pace after a brutal 157 off 75 balls — analysing what’s driving his resurgence.

On December 31, 2025, Mumbai middle-order star Sarfaraz Khan delivered an outstanding performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025-26, scoring 157 runs off just 75 balls against Goa in Jaipur. With nine fours and 14 towering sixes, Sarfaraz led Mumbai to a remarkable total of 444/8, their highest score in List A history.

This effort contributed to an 87-run victory over Goa, who managed only 357/9. Sarfaraz’s innings included breaking Rohit Sharma’s record for the fastest List A century for Mumbai, achieved in 56 balls. This match highlighted his transformation from a red-ball specialist to a white-ball powerhouse.

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Sarfaraz’s SMAT success is no fluke
Fresh from a strong performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025-26, where he scored 329 runs in seven matches at an impressive average of 65.80 and a strike rate of 203.08, Sarfaraz is changing the narrative around him.

His standout performances include an unbeaten 100 off 47 balls against Assam, which marked his first T20 century. He also scored a blistering 73 runs off 22 balls against Rajasthan, setting a new record for Mumbai’s fastest fifty at 15 balls, surpassing his own earlier record of 18 balls against Haryana.

In the VHT, he began his campaign with 55 off 49 before his explosive innings against Goa, confirming that his success in SMAT was not a fluke.

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Performances pile up, but selection eludes Sarfaraz
Previously seen primarily as a first-class player, with 4,863 runs in 60 matches at an average of 63.15 and 16 hundreds, Sarfaraz’s List A statistics are now impressive as well. He has over 1,000 career runs at an average of over 42 and a strike rate of over 106, boosted by three centuries. His brief appearances in India’s Test team (371 runs in 6 games at 37.10, SR 74.94, highest score 150) indicated potential. Despite this, he continues to face snubs, which frustrates many.

“It’s really confusing why he’s not picked in any format,” exclaimed former India captain and chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar. He reminisced about the vital innings, saying, “They batted beautifully… Such a talent has been overlooked. It’s truly a shame!”

Vengsarkar praised Sarfaraz’s strong mindset and ability to perform, saying, “He’s a match-winner. When Mumbai lost their leading batsmen against Goa, he produced an outstanding inning… If you don’t pick match-winners, you can’t blame anyone else.”

Ravichandran Ashwin echoed similar sentiments on X, discussing IPL 2026, where CSK acquired Sarfaraz for his base price of Rs 75 lakh. “100*(47), 52(40), 64(25), 73(22) in SMAT… 55(49) & 157(75) with 14 sixes in Hazare. He excels against spin… ‘Avan kadhava thattala, idichi odachitu irukaan’ (He’s breaking the door open). CSK should utilise his current form in the Playing XII!”, wrote Ashwin.

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What’s driving Sarfaraz’s comeback?
His comeback is driven by intense preparation under his personal coach and father Naushad, motivation from the IPL, and a desire to prove his critics wrong. At 28 years old, Sarfaraz’s ability to dominate spin bowlers in the middle overs, his 360-degree batting, improvement in power-hitting, and ability to rescue his team from difficult positions demonstrate his versatility.

As the VHT progresses and the IPL approaches, selectors are under increasing pressure. Ignoring this wave of runs could have serious consequences. Sarfaraz isn’t just knocking on the door—he’s breaking it down.

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