India's Sarfaraz Khan, third left, is greeted by his father as he gets ready to play his first international test match on the first day of the third cricket test match between India and England in Rajkot, India, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)Sarfaraz Khan rubberstamped his credentials on Thursday when he scored a blistering half century against England in his debut match in national colours at Rajkot.
“It felt very good. To come to the ground. I have been playing since the age of 6. It was my father’s love and my dream to play for India for him,” he said after the match.
“My father has worked really hard on my and my brother’s cricket. This is the proudest moment of my life,” the youngster added in the post-match PC.
Khan has been churning runs over the years in domestic cricket. Despite the runs, a Test debut was the thing he only could dream of before today. But on Thursday he and his father Naushad Khan’s dream became a reality ahead of the third Test between India vs England in Rajkot as Sarfaraz was presented with his debut cap by former leg-spinner Anil Kumble.
Naushad was seen in tears as his son was presented with the cap, He later hugged him with joy and kissed the Indian badge on his Sarfaraz’s cap.
Earlier in the year speaking to this publication Naushad got emotional while talking about his journey. He recalled Back in 2014, when he had watched his eldest son Sarfaraz make his India U-19 debut with an eight-year-old Musheer Khan who himself grew on to be part of the U19 Indian team which recently reached the final of the World Cup in South Africa.
Wholesome moments in Rajkot ❤️🥺
How excited are you to see Sarfaraz Khan & Dhruv Jurel 🧤 in the 3rd #INDvENG Test?#BazBowled #JioCinemaSports #TeamIndia #IDFCFirstBankTestSeries pic.twitter.com/r7VLxGTBxT
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) February 15, 2024
Over the years, Naushad has spent hours dishing out throw-downs, and has travelled across the country with his sons just to play matches. He couldn’t help himself turning nostalgic while talking about the journey.
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