I’ll be ready if the opportunity arises: Sarfaraz Khan

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sarfaraz Khan had to wait a long time for his India debut, which ultimately materialised against England in the Test series earlier this year. After a long, hard grind he finally got to realise his childhood dream to represent the nation in front of his father and coach Naushad Khan.

Sarfaraz, who will be leading Mumbai in the Buchi Babu tournament in Tamil Nadu, has not played any competitive cricket since the England series, in which he scored 200 runs in five innings with three half-centuries. The Buchi Babu tournament will be followed by the Duleep Trophy, which is set to be a platform for the players to stake their claim in the three-match Test series against Bangladesh.

However, with the plethora of options the Indian team has in its arsenal at the moment, Sarfaraz might likely miss out on a spot in the middle-order. Sarfaraz, however, is not disturbed by any of it and has “zero expectations”. He said that he would be more than ready to chip in if provided with the opportunity, although carrying no burden of the assurance of selection from his end.

“I have zero expectation, but I’ll be ready if the opportunity arises. That is what I’ve been doing all along, and I don’t see any reason to change that,” Sarfaraz told The Indian Express.

I was very clear in my mind. I wasn’t looking at the opposition or the bowler: Sarfaraz

Sarfaraz also spoke about the gratitude he felt within him after getting the opportunity to represent the country at the highest level after a long wait. He also narrated his experience while coming onto the field to bat for the very first time in Indian whites, revealing what his frame of mind was.

“Some get a break very soon in their career. Some have to wait. In my case, I’m fortunate that it took time because I got to spend a lot of time in domestic cricket and that grind helped me become a better batter. When I made my debut, for the first three deliveries, I was nervous. But after that, I was in control. Whatever I used to do at the domestic level, I was doing the same in Test cricket. I was very clear in my mind. I wasn’t looking at the opposition or the bowler,” added Sarfaraz.

Sarfaraz has had a mighty impressive record in the domestic arena, with him accruing 4,112 runs in 71 innings at a commendable average of 68.53.