Sarfaraz Khan, an Indian cricketer hailing from the minority Muslim community, who was previously not favored by the national selectors despite having a stupendous domestic record, made a dream debut for Team India in Rajkot on Thursday.
Khan, who came out to bat after the fall of captain Rohit Sharma's wicket in the first innings of the third Test against England, looked in serene touch from the word go, dominating spinners and pacers alike, as he joined a select band of Indian cricketers to score a fifty on debut in the purest format of the game.
In the process, Khan equaled all-rounder Hardik Pandya's feat of scoring the fastest half-century by an Indian in Test cricket.
Khan smashed seven fours and a six during his 62-run innings off 66 deliveries before losing his wicket in an unfortunate manner.
The Mumbaikar was forced to depart from the ground after he and his senior batting partner Ravindra Jadeja had a misunderstanding in the middle and Khan was run out by a direct throw from England's Mark Wood.
India's Sarfaraz Khan celebrates his fifty runs 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)
© AP Photo / Ajit Solanki
Though Khan perished for a well-crafted 62, he earned rich plaudits from the Indian cricket team's supporters on X.
"Well played Sarfaraz Khan. He probably would have scored a hundred on his debut but that unfortunate runout," a fan wrote on the social network.
"Sarfaraz Khan's excellent innings came to an end on 62 runs, he made history in his first match," another added.
"Got out in an unfortunate manner but played beautifully. So good to see a batsman use the depth of the crease against spin," a third summed up.