Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar took to social media to express his confusion over India's batting decisions in the ongoing third Test against New Zealand. After Sarfaraz Khan, who has been in good form, was demoted to the eighth position in the batting order, Manjrekar criticized the decision made by skipper Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir. Sarfaraz's previous performances at the Wankhede Stadium, where he has scored 601 runs in 6 innings, make the decision even more puzzling.
During the second Test between India and New Zealand in Pune, young batsman Sarfaraz Khan's convincing plea to skipper Rohit Sharma to take a review resulted in the dismissal of Will Young, giving Ravichandran Ashwin his second wicket of the innings. Despite a controlled start, New Zealand captain Tom Latham's dismissal to Ashwin's wizardry put the Kiwis at 30/1. However, Khan and Virat Kohli's animated persuasion led Rohit to make the right call and contribute to Ashwin's impressive performance.
The third and final Test between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai saw Team India's Sarfaraz Khan getting out without scoring. In a video that made rounds on social media, cameras captured the stunned expressions of Sarfaraz's father and brother as they watched his dismissal. Despite the early setback, India managed to take a lead of 28 runs with a strong partnership between Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant. However, Gill fell short of his century before Washington Sundar's late blitz helped India surpass New Zealand's first-innings total.
India struggles in the ongoing India vs New Zealand 3rd Test as New Zealand's left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel claims his career's sixth Test fifer and the Indian batting lineup falters on Day 2. Despite valiant efforts from Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill, India falls short in their attempt to gain a lead against the strong New Zealand bowling attack. With India already losing the Test series, they will have to work hard to avoid a clean-sweep at home.
In a crucial moment during Day 1 of the India vs New Zealand 2nd Test, Sarfaraz Khan's teammates, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, convinced him to opt for a Decision Review System (DRS) which led to the dismissal of Will Young. A viral video shows Sarfaraz appealing towards Ravichandran Ashwin and Rishabh Pant for a review, while Ashwin and Pant seemed unsure. The referral proved to be successful as Young was found to have got a glove on the ball, giving India an early breakthrough.
In a stunning comeback, India's Sarfaraz Khan, playing in just his fourth Test, scored a century to save his team after a disastrous first innings. Batting alongside Rishabh Pant, who also had a strong innings, Sarfaraz's partnership helped to turn the game around and set up a target of 107 for New Zealand. Despite some comical moments between the two players, Sarfaraz's creative and effective batting ultimately propelled India into a promising position heading into the final day of the match.
After two consecutive disappointing days on the cricket field, India's team finally showed promise on the fourth day of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. Despite facing a challenging target set by New Zealand, Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant played with confidence and determination, delighting fans with their positive intent. Amidst their impressive partnership, a disastrous mix-up nearly led to a run-out, but luck was on India's side as they emerged victorious from the situation. Reflecting on the challenges of the day, spinner Kuldeep Yadav emphasized the importance of a strategic approach towards run rate control on a flat pitch.
Sarfaraz Khan, who was a substitute for Shubman Gill, stepped up in the first Test against New Zealand by scoring a magnificent century in the second innings. Along with Rishabh Pant, he also formed a crucial partnership of 177 runs, helping India reach a total of 462 runs in the second innings. However, former cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that Sarfaraz might have lost his focus after reaching the milestone, leading to his eventual dismissal.
Indian cricketer Sarfaraz Khan expressed his excitement after scoring his first ever century for the national team against New Zealand in the Bengaluru Test. His impressive innings of 150 runs helped India reach a total of 462 in their second innings. However, with New Zealand needing just 107 runs for victory on the final day and the pitch deteriorating, India's chances of winning seem uncertain.
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has likened the batting style of India's rising star Sarfaraz Khan to that of legendary Pakistani batsman Javed Miandad. Manjrekar was impressed with how Sarfaraz handled the opposition's pace attack and his confident stroke play. He also noted Sarfaraz's defensive approach towards the end of Day 3, highlighting the youngster's composure and versatility in his batting. Manjrekar believes this bodes well for both India and Sarfaraz's upcoming tour of Australia.