'I got back from practice at 2AM...': Sarfaraz reacts to Gavaskar's 'go to fashion show' remark
Reacting to Gavaskar's 'fashion show' comment, Sarfaraz, ahead of the IPL 2023 stated that he has been putting in the extra yard as far as fitness is concerned.
Sarfaraz Khan remains a rare oddity in Indian cricket. Despite piling a mountain of runs, he continues to be ignored from a place in the Indian team. Clamours for Sarfaraz's inclusions have been growing ever since he missed out on a place in Team India's Test squad for the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the likes of Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav were granted their maiden Test call-up. Former cricketers such as Venkatesh Prasad and Sunil Gavaskar were the most vocal on Twitter and through their columns respectively.
Gavaskar in particular, was a tad harsh after the BCCI selectors repeatedly ignored Sarfaraz. The former India captain had taken a dig at Chetan Sharma and backed Sarfaraz with a stern reply to those questioning his fitness. This is after Sarfaraz had slammed 556 runs in 6 matches three centuries.
"If you are looking for only slim and trim guys, then might as well go to a fashion show and find some other models and give a bat and ball in their hands and then improve them. That’s not the way cricket goes. You have cricketers in all shapes and sizes. Don't go by the size, go by the scores or wickets. He is not staying off the field when he scores a hundred. He is back on the field again. So, all that tells you is that the man is fit," Gavaskar had told India Today.
Reacting to it for the first time since January, Sarfaraz, ahead of the IPL 2023 stated that he has been putting in the extra yard as far as fitness is concerned. A normal day in Sarfaraz's life includes him batting for hours against as many as six different bowlers, indicating his fitness is right up there. In between, Sarfaraz was part of a fitness camp organised by Delhi Capitals as well where he hit the ground running.
"I just heard that a while ago. I was busy playing the Ranji Trophy so I saw it in the morning itself all that he had to say. See fitness is obviously important, and I try my best. When our last Ranji Trophy match got over, I got back home at 2AM in the night and at 5AM was back on the ground. So my ground fitness is up to the mark and when it comes to running and all, I try and get the most out of it during Ranji or IPL. DC recently conducted a fitness camp in Delhi for 14 days. Whatever we have in our hand, we do it," Sarfaraz told SportsYaari.
The 25-year-old spoke about his wait for an India call-up saying he is happy to bide his time. For Sarfaraz continuing his good form matters more than playing for India. Not too long ago, a player had similar made his much-awaited India debut after a long wait and inside two years rose to the top of the ICC rankings – Suryakumar Yadav – and Sarfaraz does not mind following the footsteps of his good friend.
"I am concentrating on the form that I am currently in, making sure I continue it for as long as possible. I'm doing this because when you lose your form, it doesn't come back that easily. Often it happens that a player earns a late call-up. Take Suryakumar Yadav for example. He is a great friend; we keep talking to each other about skills and we both play strong sweep shots. So like he too got a late start, he is in good form. So I too don't mind waiting a bit longer but key is to sustain this form," said Sarfaraz.