Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar reckons Sarfaraz Khan can be a great ODI batter for India, especially in the middle overs at No.4 or No.5. Sarfaraz Khan has a great record in First-Class cricket but his stats in List A cricket are not very promising as he has accumulated 629 runs in 27 innings at an average nearing 35 which is half of his first-class average. He has smashed two centuries in List A cricket and has a highest individual score of 117.
Sarfaraz Khan recently made his Team India debut during the third Test against England, played at the Niranjan Shah Cricket Stadium in Rajkot. He had a terrific debut playing a 50+ knock in both innings. He scored 62 off 66 deliveries in the first innings but unfortunately ran out after a mixup with Ravindra Jadeja. He added 172* runs for the fifth wicket with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the second innings where he smashed 68 off 72 balls.
Sarfaraz Khan got an opportunity to represent India in Test cricket after he amassed 3912 runs in first-class cricket which included 14 centuries and 11 half-centuries at an average of 69.85 in 65 innings. His limited-overs cricket record is not as impressive as his red-ball records. However, cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar feels he can be a great option for the Indian team in the ODIs in the middle-order when five fielders are inside the circle.
Sanjay Manjrekar feels Sarfaraz Khan can be a great ODI option for India
“I think India have found a very good 50 overs middle order batter option, to bat in the middle stages, with 5 fielders inside the circle, it’s Sarfaraz Khan,” tweeted Sanjay Manjrekar. Sarfaraz Khan needs to first make sure that he becomes a regular member of the Test team as he has only played one Test and he needs to perform in the remaining two Tests as well because in the current Indian team, it is difficult to keep your spot with just one good performance.
I think India have found a very good 50 overs middle order batter option, to bat in the middle stages, with 5 fielders inside the circle, it’s Sarfraz Khan.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 18, 2024
India and England are facing each other in a five-match Test series and this is their last series before the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 as the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 will commence in the third week of March. The hosts currently lead the Test series 2-1 as they won the third Test in Rajkot by a huge 434-run margin. Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja smashed their centuries in the first innings whereas Yahsasvi Jaiswal demolished the English bowling in the second innings with his double century scoring 214 off 236 deliveries.
India and England will now face each other at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association Stadium in Ranchi commencing on February 23, Friday. The hosts are leading the five-match series and would like to seal the series in Ranchi and for England it is necessary to win the Ranchi Test to have a chance at winning the series. India has not lost a Test series at home since 2012 and would like to maintain their unbeaten run.
