Latest news with #Sarfaraz
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Sarfaraz Khan immediately shows the benefit of 10 kg weight loss, flies to his left and plucks one-handed stunner: Watch
India A were in search of a moment of magic as England Lions opener Tom Haines piled on the runs against them at the Spitfire Ground in Canterbury, and a moment of magic is what they got, as Sarfaraz Khan took a spectacular diving catch at slip to help dismiss the batter on 171. With Shardul Thakur bowling and wicketless thus far in the innings, Haines attempted to drive a fuller one through the off-side. His bat caught a thick edge, and with Sarfaraz the only fielder in a one-man slip cordon, the batter sprung with lightning-quick reflexes to his left. Sticking out his left hand, Sarfaraz took the incredibly tough chance, and gave India a window back into the game after England Lions had dominated the proceedings to that point in the innings. Haines' wicket ended the 93-run partnership he had put on with Dan Mousley for the sixth wicket, which had continued to frustrate India A after a couple of quick wickets in succession earlier in the day. It must be mentioned that over the course of the last few months, Sarfaraz Khan has been working on his fitness. Before being picked for India, the Mumbai batter shed 10kgs in less than two months. Sarfaraz continued to make a case for his inclusion in the Test team after missing out on the squad: after pictures had been revealed of the 27-year-old batter looking fitter and trimmer after work put in during the off-season, he showed the fruits of his labour with this catch. A wicketkeeper by trade but criticised in the past for being slightly lethargic and sloppy in the field, all the technique and confidence of that extra spring in his step was on show in a special catch. It was a moment to celebrate for his India A teammates, as he was thronged by several of them to commend him for his role in the dismissal. Earlier in the match, Sarfaraz had fallen narrowly short of a century of his own, scoring 92 in the first innings and impressing with the bat, and providing very able support to Karun Nair as he reached his double century. England Lions ended day three of the warm-up contest only 30 runs behind India's total and with three wickets in the tank, Mousley scoring a century of his own but being dismissed on the last ball of the day by Nair. It was a better day for Mukesh Kumar, who bounced back to take three of India A's five wickets on day three.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Karun Nair's Comeback Sparks Debate as Sarfaraz Khan, Shreyas Iyer Miss Out On England Tests
As India prepares for a crucial five-match Test series in England starting June 20, the omissions of Sarfaraz Khan and Shreyas Iyer from the squad have triggered plenty of debate. Both batters were widely expected to be part of the team, especially with the retirements of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Instead, the selectors opted for Karun Nair, marking a surprise recall after nearly eight years, and handed Sai Sudharsan his maiden call-up. The buzz now is whether Nair's resurgence came at the cost of Sarfaraz and Iyer's Test futures. The announcement of India's 18-member Test squad for the England tour raised more than a few eyebrows. With two batting spots available due to the recent retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the general belief was that Shreyas Iyer and Sarfaraz Khan – both of whom played for India in the last year – were front-runners. However, in a surprising move, the selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir, chose to go in a different direction. Karun Nair, who last played a Test for India in 2017, was recalled following an outstanding domestic season. Meanwhile, Sai Sudharsan was rewarded for consistent performances with a maiden call-up. These selections meant there was no place for Sarfaraz or Iyer, and the decision has since drawn mixed reactions. Former India pacer Atul Wassan believes the omissions were driven more by perception than performance. Speaking on the 12th episode of Bails and Banter on OTTPlay, Wassan suggested that Sarfaraz and Iyer were overlooked due to doubts about their ability to succeed in English conditions. 'Sarfaraz made three fifties and a hundred but didn't get a single game in Australia. It's this perception that he may not perform overseas. Same with Shreyas Iyer – people feel he hasn't done enough in red-ball cricket,' Wassan said. 'On the other hand, the buzz was all about Karun Nair. Sometimes the team management just backs a gut feeling.' Sarfaraz had a memorable debut earlier this year, scoring 62 against England before being run out due to a mix-up with Ravindra Jadeja. He backed it up with a 68* in the next innings and went on to score another fifty and his maiden Test century – 150 vs New Zealand in Bengaluru. Despite his performances, he did not feature in a single match in the Australia series and now finds himself out of the squad entirely. Shreyas Iyer, on the other hand, last played a Test during the England series before a back injury sidelined him. While he returned strongly in white-ball cricket – playing a key role in India's Champions Trophy win – his red-ball spot remains elusive. His exclusion from BCCI's central contracts list earlier this year had already hinted at his uncertain Test future. Karun Nair, meanwhile, made a strong case with 863 runs in nine Ranji Trophy matches and 779 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. His consistent form seems to have convinced the selectors to give him another shot in the longest format. Listen to the latest songs, only on
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
India A vs England Lions: Nair pushes Test case with 186*
Mumbai: On comeback trail, Karun Nair smashed an unbeaten 186 against England Lions to make a strong case for his selection in India's team for the first Test against England starting from June 20. Led by Nair's fine unbeaten hundred (24 fours 1 six), a composed 92 (13 fours) by Sarfaraz Khan and a fluent 82 (9 fours, 1 six) by Dhruv Jurel, the India A side made a bright start to their UK tour. At the end of the opening day of their three-day 1st unofficial Test being played at Canterbury, the tourists were 409/3 after being put into bat. These performances, with potential slots up for grabs in the Test batting line-up, are a big positive for the Indian side going into the five-match series. Following the retirement of Virat Kohli, India is banking on Nair's experience to fill the big gap in the middle-order. Nair clearly has unfinished business. In his third Test match in 2016, he had become India's second triple-centurion, and only the third man in the game's history to convert a maiden Test ton into a triple (303*). But his career seemed to grind to a halt after playing just six Tests. It's been seven years since he last featured in an Indian Test squad, on the 2018 England tour. The last Test he played was eight years ago – against Australia at Dharamshala. The hunger to make a comeback has been there to see in his performances in domestic cricket in the last two seasons. Playing for Vidarbha as a professional player, in 2023-24 Ranji Trophy he scored 690 runs, and in 2024-25 he smashed 863 runs. He also has the experience of playing in English conditions, impressing in the 2024 County Championship with 487 runs for Northamptonshire at an average of 48.70. It showed in his compact game on the opening day of the tour. Nair's only blemish on way to his 24th first-class hundred was when he edged pacer Ajeet Singh Dale but Emilio Gay, at second slip, failed to hold on. The innings was important for his batting partner Sarfaraz Khan too. The Mumbai batter is fighting to stay in contention for a comeback to the Test side. He was part of the Test side in the last series in Australia, but didn't get a chance in any of the five Tests. He was only picked for the India A matches and left out of the Test side. The main argument against Sarfaraz is that he is not a proven performer against the moving ball. In his innings on Friday he gave proof of his ability to handle swing. Both batters played with soft hands, under their eyes and by leaving with assurance they showed the right temperament. They were quick to capitalise on any error in length to keep finding the boundaries. Joining forces at the fall of opener Yashaswi Jaiswal's wicket at the total on 51, they shared a partnership of 181 runs before Sarfaraz fell at the total of 232. They had taken the total to 227/2 at tea with both in their 90s. With a century there for the taking, Sarfaraz was caught behind down the leg-side off pacer Josh Hull. Sarfaraz is a prolific scorer in first-class cricket with 4593 runs in 54 games at an average of 65.61. Although he has played all his six Test matches in India, he scored a 150 against a sharp New Zealand pace attack on a seamer-friendly pitch in Bengaluru in October, 2024. Dhruv Jurel batted at No 5 and looked at ease in the conditions, racing to his half-century off 68 balls when he hit Tom Haines for his sixth four. He also hit a six. \ The only cause of concern was when Jurel at the score of 74, copped a painful blow on his right elbow while trying to pull pacer Zaman Akhter. He resumed after taking treatment and cut the next ball for a four. India A's opening pair of Abhimanyu Easwaran and Yashasvi Jaiswal were the only batters to miss out. Captain Easwaran fell leg before to Josh Hull in the sixth over for eight. Jaiswal got his eye in while scoring 24 but couldn't make the start count and was out at the total of 51 after hitting three fours and a six.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Karun makes statement with 186 not out, Sarfaraz misses ton in India A's 409/3
Karun Nair was elegance personified while serving a timely reminder to the Gautam Gambhir-led team management with a classy unbeaten 186 as India A cruised to 409 for 3 against a below-par England Lions on the opening day of the first 'Unofficial' Test here on Friday (May 30, 2025). While Nair is known to bat either at No. 4 or below in first-class cricket, he looked at ease during his unbeaten 246-ball knock which made the Lions bowlers, including their Test star Rehan Ahmed, look completely pedestrian. India A batters made the best use of loose deliveries but the quality of Lions bowling attack and nature of the track might not be an appropriate reflection of what can be expected in Test matches. The Bengaluru man, who now plays for Vidarbha, used his extensive experience of playing for English County Northamptonshire during his 24th first-class ton. His innings had 24 fours and one six but it couldn't have come at a more opportune time as Gambhir frets over his batting combination for the opening Test against England at Leeds, starting June 20. Sarfaraz Khan (92 off 119 balls) blended a bit of muscle and a lot of cheekiness but missed out on a three-figure mark after doing all the hard work. The duo added 181 runs for the third wicket stand and then Dhruv Jurel (82 batting, 104 balls) made merry during another 177-run stand for the unbroken fourth wicket alliance. Call it irony, just like Nair had pipped Sarfaraz as the extra batter in the Test squad, he also overshadowed the Mumbai man on a flat deck where the Lions attack didn't have enough teeth to trouble some of the senior India stars. Conceding 51 boundaries and three sixes in 90 overs doesn't make for a great reading. Yashasvi Jaiswal (24 off 55 balls) played out the first hour but didn't utilize the start while Abhimanyu Easwaran (8), who should consider himself massively lucky to have got another shot at Test team, showed why he isn't cut out for the big league. The Canterbury County ground pitch had a greenish tinge but there was hardly any lateral movement on offer. Nair had extra time to play his shots and was severe on all bowlers with a lot of shots square of the wicket. Rehan, the England Test leg-spinner, was extremely ordinary as he was clobbered for 95 runs in 16 overs. Sarfaraz, in fact, hit him inside out for a boundary to complete his fifty and also hit him straight for a maximum, and against pacers, he used the bounce to play the ramp shot over slips for useful runs. Nair was severe on anything that was pitched short and looked regal whenever he rocked back to play the pull shot. When off-spinner Dan Mousley bowled, he repeatedly played the reverse sweep with minimal effort. The duo farmed the strike without much ado and when Sarfaraz lazily chased a wide delivery from Hull down the leg-side, even Lions bowlers didn't expect a wicket. But the joy was short-lived as there was no taking the foot from the pedal from either Nair or Jurel, who continued to show disdain for home team bowlers. Brief scores: India A: 409/3 in 90 overs (Karun Nair 186 batting; Sarfaraz Khan 92, Dhruv Jurel 82 batting; Josh Hull 2/51).
India.com
3 days ago
- Sport
- India.com
Karun Nair makes statement with a stunning century as Sarfaraz Khan misses ton against England Lions
Karun Nair century (PIC - X) Karun Nair was elegance personified while serving a timely reminder to the Gautam Gambhir-led team management with a classy unbeaten 186 as India A cruised to 409 for 3 against a below-par England Lions on the opening day of the first 'Unofficial' Test here on Friday. While Nair is known to bat either at No. 4 or below in first-class cricket, he looked at ease during his unbeaten 246-ball knock which made the Lions bowlers, including their Test star Rehan Ahmed, look completely pedestrian. India A batters made the best use of loose deliveries but the quality of Lions bowling attack and nature of the track might not be an appropriate reflection of what can be expected in Test matches. The Bengaluru man, who now plays for Vidarbha, used his extensive experience of playing for English County Northamptonshire during his 24th first-class ton. His innings had 24 fours and one six but it couldn't have come at a more opportune time as Gambhir frets over his batting combination for the opening Test against England at Leeds, starting June 20. Sarfaraz Khan (92 off 119 balls) blended a bit of muscle and a lot of cheekiness but missed out on a three-figure mark after doing all the hard work. The duo added 181 runs for the third wicket stand and then Dhruv Jurel (82 batting, 104 balls) made merry during another 177-run stand for the unbroken fourth wicket alliance. Call it irony, just like Nair had pipped Sarfaraz as the extra batter in the Test squad, he also overshadowed the Mumbai man on a flat deck where the Lions attack didn't have enough teeth to trouble some of the senior India stars. Conceding 51 boundaries and three sixes in 90 overs doesn't make for a great reading. Yashasvi Jaiswal (24 off 55 balls) played out the first hour but didn't utilize the start while Abhimanyu Easwaran (8), who should consider himself massively lucky to have got another shot at Test team, showed why he isn't cut out for the big league. The Canterbury County ground pitch had a greenish tinge but there was hardly any lateral movement on offer. Nair had extra time to play his shots and was severe on all bowlers with a lot of shots square of the wicket. Rehan, the England Test leg-spinner, was extremely ordinary as he was clobbered for 95 runs in 16 overs. Sarfaraz, in fact, hit him inside out for a boundary to complete his fifty and also hit him straight for a maximum, and against pacers, he used the bounce to play the ramp shot over slips for useful runs. Nair was severe on anything that was pitched short and looked regal whenever he rocked back to play the pull shot. When off-spinner Dan Mousley bowled, he repeatedly played the reverse sweep with minimal effort. The duo farmed the strike without much ado and when Sarfaraz lazily chased a wide delivery from Hull down the leg-side, even Lions bowlers didn't expect a wicket. But the joy was short-lived as there was no taking the foot from the pedal from either Nair or Jurel, who continued to show disdain for home team bowlers. Brief scores: India A: 409/3 in 90 overs (Karun Nair 186 batting; Sarfaraz Khan 92, Dhruv Jurel 82 batting; Josh Hull 2/51).
