The India cricket team has been struck with another blow. After Mohammed Shami and Virat Kohli were ruled out of the India vs England Test series, KL Rahul has also been ruled out of the third Test in Rajkot. The wicketkeeper batter had put up a video of him practicing in the nets just yesterday, but unfortunately, he hasn’t been given a clean bill of health just yet.
However, his absence may prove to be a blessing in disguise for Sarfaraz Khan. The domestic giant was awarded a maiden Test call-up before the India vs England 2nd Test but couldn’t make the cut in Vizag. However, with Shreyas Iyer gone and Rahul injured, the middle-order batter can finally get the chance he’s been waiting for.
“Sarfaraz (Khan) will be making his debut. As KL (Rahul) has been ruled out for this Test, Sarfaraz will be getting his first game,” a source revealed to TOI, all but confirming that the 26-year-old will receive his maiden Test cap on February 15.
Sarfaraz Khan: A red-ball giant
Sarfaraz Khan has been the best middle-order batter in the last couple of years on the Indian domestic circuit. The 26-year-old has scored 3912 runs at 69.85 in 45 first-class matches, including a 161 against the England Lions last month.
Safaraz has 14 centuries and 11 fifties in 66 innings in red-ball cricket and has the fourth-highest first-class average of all time, behind legends like Vijay Hazare, Don Bradman, and George Headley.
On spin-friendly Indian pitches, Sarfaraz Khan proved his merit. With the next to be played on a potential slow turner in Rajkot, playing the middle-order batter from Mumbai makes perfect sense. In the absence of Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, the two players who are known to score big in India, having an experienced domestic player like Sarafaz is of high importance.
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