Sarfaraz Khan’s Century in Irani Cup Draws Parallels with Cricket Legends

Sarfaraz Khan, the prolific Mumbai batter, continued his outstanding form in the domestic first-class circuit by scoring a century in the ongoing Irani Cup match against the Rest of India. Batting at number five, Sarfaraz leveled a significant milestone, equaling the records of cricketing icons Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid with two centuries each in this prestigious tournament.

His performance took place at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Day 2, where alongside Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane, he helped to stabilize the innings. They formed a crucial 131-run fifth-wicket partnership, with Rahane narrowly missing out on a century by scoring 97 runs from 234 deliveries. Sarfaraz, however, reached his 15th first-class century, showcasing his batting prowess.

Interestingly, Sarfaraz’s achievements in first-class cricket show more centuries than half-centuries, a testament to his ability to convert starts into substantial scores. His tally includes 15 centuries and 14 fifties, marking him as a key player in domestic competitions.

This century comes shortly after Sarfaraz was released from the India Test squad during their series against Bangladesh. While not featured in the playing XI, he contributed as a substitute fielder, as reported during the series where KL Rahul returned to the lineup. Sarfaraz’s international debut earlier in the year against England was marked by impressive performances, although his place in the squad is not yet solidified.

In the Irani Cup, Sarfaraz reached his century in 150 balls, displaying a positive and aggressive style of cricket. At the conclusion of the innings, he remained unbeaten at 103 runs off 155 deliveries. Notably, this achievement aligns him with the group of cricketing greats such as Shikhar Dhawan, Polly Umrigar, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who also have two centuries each in the tournament.

Only Dilip Vengsarkar and Gundappa Viswanath have managed more, with four centuries each, while Hanuma Vihari, Abhinav Mukund, Sunil Gavaskar, and Wasim Jaffer have scored three times in the Irani Cup.

Sarfaraz hopes to catch the attention of selectors, with an eye on the upcoming series against New Zealand and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour of Australia. His recent performances in the domestic circuit place him among the contenders for a spot in India’s Test squad, amid a highly competitive lineup for the middle-order positions.