It was a dream come true for Sarfaraz Khan when he jumped in the air to celebrate his maiden Test hundred on Saturday. He tore his helmet away and roared like a gladiator as he reached the triple figures with a backfoot punch off Tim Southee that went for a four. The 26-year-old top-scored for India in the second innings, amassing 150 off 195 balls with the help of 18 fours and 3 sixes.
Speaking with bcci.tv after the fourth day’s play, Sarfaraz said he was on cloud nine after reaching his first international hundred.
“It felt amazing when I reached my hundred and started to celebrate. Aisa lag raha tha grass green nahi blue hai (It felt like the grass was blue and not green) and I’m in the sky. It was a dream to score a hundred for India. Today I’m happy that it came true,” Sarfaraz told BCCI.
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The Mumbai batter stitched a 177-run partnership for the fourth wicket with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant. Sarfaraz said they tried to recreate the innings played in the Duleep Trophy last month at the same venue, Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Batting for India B, Pant and Sarfaraz put on an aggressive 240-run stand against India A. Drawing inspiration from that successful performance, the duo decided to take on the New Zealand bowlers.
“We both are power-hitters. Rishabh also has a fearless approach. We were discussing that it’s just like the Duleep Trophy innings we played. So, let’s back each other and play our hearts out,” he added.
Sarfaraz also shared a 136-run stand with Virat Kohli on the third day of the ongoing Test. Speaking about his partnership with Kohli, the young batter said he had a great time batting alongside the former India captain.
“I have grown up watching Virat Bhai. I got to share the dressing room with him in the IPL but never I would ever share the Indian dressing room with him one day. He was instilling confidence in me. He kept on telling me to back myself and play my game freely.
“It always feels good when great players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, even Gautam sir, tell you, ‘Well Played’,” Sarfaraz concluded.
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