In the IND vs. ENG Rajkot Test as KL Rahul is out, is Sarfaraz Khan set for his India debut?
Team India has been struck with another blow. After Mohammed Shami and Virat Kohli were ruled out of the India vs. England Test series, KL Rahul has also been ruled out of the third Test in Rajkot. The wicketkeeper batter had put up a video of him practicing in the nets just yesterday, but unfortunately, he hasn’t been given a clean bill of health just yet.
However, his absence may prove to be a blessing in disguise for Sarfaraz Khan. The domestic giant was awarded a maiden Test call-up before the India vs. England 2nd Test but couldn’t make the cut in Vizag. However, with Shreyas Iyer gone and Rahul injured, the middle-order batter can finally get the chance he’s been waiting for.
Sarfaraz Khan has been the best middle-order batter in the last couple of years on the Indian domestic circuit. The 26-year-old has scored 3912 runs at 69.85 in 45 first-class matches, including a 161 against the England Lions last month.
Safaraz has 14 centuries and 11 fifties in 66 innings in red-ball cricket and has the fourth-highest first-class average of all time, behind legends like Vijay Hazare, Don Bradman, and George Headley.