Sarfaraz Khan blasts 76-ball century in front of Ajit Agarkar with VVS Laxman watching; Jasprit Bumrah goes wicketless
Sarfaraz Khan blasted a 76-ball century in the intra squad match. While playing for India A, he smashed 15 fours and two sixes against India.
Right-handed batter Sarfaraz Khan might not have been named in the India squad for the five-match series against England but he is leaving no stone unturned in trying to impress the BCCI chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar. On Day 2 of the intra-squad match against India, Sarfaraz while playing for India A, smashed 101 runs off 76 balls with the help of 15 fours and two sixes in Beckenham. The 27-year-old eventually retired out.
It must be mentioned that Ajit Agarkar and the National Cricket Academy (NCA) head, VVS Laxman, were in attendance for the intra-squad match that is being played behind closed doors. Neither media not fans are allowed to see the action unfold.
Sarfaraz Khan's ouster from the main India squad had raised several eyebrows. However, the youngster took the omission in his stride, playing a knock of 92 runs in the first unofficial Test between India A and England Lions in Canterbury.
Sarfaraz has played six Tests for India thus far, scoring 371 runs at an average of 37.10, including an innings of 150 runs against New Zealand in Bengaluru. However, he failed in the next two Tests against the Kiwis and has yet to play for India since.
The right-hander then didn't get a chance in the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, which India lost 1-3. Before the series against England, Sarfaraz even lost 10 kgs. He was working hard, practicing against the swinging ball. However, disappointment followed as he was not named in the 18-member squad for the five-match series against England, beginning June 20.
Jasprit Bumrah goes wicketless
On the second day of the intra-squad match, Jasprit Bumrah went wicketless while Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna returned with two wickets each.
However, Siraj's performance left a lot to be desired. He conceded more than seven runs per over. Bumrah, too, conceded five runs per over, although not much should be read into it heading into the series against England.
Nitish Kumar Reddy also returned with one wicket, dismissing India A batter Abhimanyu Easwaran for 39.
For India A, Sai Sudharsan scored 38 runs off 60 balls with seven boundaries while Ishan Kishan registered 45 runs off 55 balls. India A ended Day 2 at 299/6, still trailing India by 160 runs.
On Day 1, India batted first with both skipper Shubman Gill and KL Rahul scoring half-centuries.
