Sarfaraz Khan apologises to India legend for playing reckless shot against England

Young India batter Sarfaraz Khan had a memorable international debut against England in the recently concluded five-match Test series. Sarfaraz looked in fine form in the final Test and exhibited his aggressive style of batting scoring 56 off 59 balls. Though, soon after the Tea break on the second day of the game, Sarfaraz played a reckless shot to find himself caught out at the slip cordon. Sarfaraz’s wrong shot selection disappointed legendary India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar who was present in the commentary box then. It is now being learnt that Sarfaraz later apologised to Gavaskar conveying a message, reportedly, through Shyam Bhatia, a Dubai-based businessman.

As per UAE-based newspaper The National News, Bhatia had arranged an interaction between Gavaskar and Sarfaraz. “Sir, please say sorry to Mr. Gavaskar – I made a mistake! I won’t make that mistake again,” Sarfaraz had reportedly told Bhatia.

More from First Cricket News

BCCI defends decision to play vs Pakistan in Asia Cup months after Pahalgam attack: 'If we boycott...' 'Indian players share compassion and feeling of majority Indian public': Ten Doeschate on IND vs PAK clash

Gavaskar appeared to be quite livid seeing Sarfaraz throwing away his wicket cheaply during the Dharamsala Test. “The ball was pitched up, it wasn’t short enough for that shot. Goes for it and pays the price. I mean you are playing the first ball after tea. Give yourself a little sighter,” Gavaskar had said in his commentary.

“Don Bradman said to me, ‘Every ball that I face, even if I am on 200, I think I am on 0.’ And here is [Sarfaraz], playing such a shot first ball of the session,” the India legend added.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new report

PCB bans players from WCL over India-Pakistan match controversy

Sarfaraz and Gavaskar had reportedly met a day before at the team hotel in Dharamsala. As per media reports, the duo had discussed batting and Gavaskar had even talked about the importance of making wise shot selection.

Coming back to Sarfaraz, the 26-year-old kicked off his international career with a solid knock of 62 in the first innings of the third Test in Rajkot. Sarfaraz replicated his form in the second innings of the Rajkot Test and produced another vital knock of an unbeaten 68.

Having played three Tests so far, Sarfaraz has notched 200 runs at an average of 50. Sarfaraz already has three Test half centuries under his belt. Meanwhile, the Indian cricket team went on to clinch an emphatic 4-1 series victory over England. India lost the opening fixture but Rohit Sharma’s men made a roaring comeback to win the Test series.