Sarfaraz Khan: 'My strength is that I am not satisfied easily. Everything I have is a result of hard work'

After years of waiting, Sarfaraz Khan is now apart of Indian Test team and could also end up making his debut on Friday as India get ready to take on England in the second Test at Visakhapatnam. With Virat Kohli and KL Rahul out of the team due to various reasons, Sarfaraz may not only get his debut, but would also be expected to come good on his debut. His Ranji Trophy and domestic cricket experience, where he has scored 3912 in 45 matches at an average of 69.85 should hold him in good stead. Ahead of the Visakhapatnam Test, in a conversation with official broadcaster JioCinema, Sarfaraz spoke about his father’s contribution in his journey, his preparation and his cricketing idols. IND vs ENG: Lack of experience among batters a major worry for India The Mumbai middle order batter recalled the contribution of his father in getting him ready for the big stage. He said his father inspired him to work hard and that led to his maiden India call-up. “My father introduced me to cricket, and I always wondered why am I even playing. By nature I am an attacking batsman and I used to get out sooner than other and scoring big runs was getting difficult. It was disheartening to see others succeed while I wouldn’t be among the runs. Even when I moved from Mumbai to UP, he would take flights to come and see me,” Sarfaraz said. “He would start bowling to me on the terrace or the road itself before selection trials. Now I realise the impact and importance of those efforts. When I came back to Mumbai from UP, I was scared if this would bring a halt to my career and I strongly felt there was no future ahead of me, but my dad always stood by me. There’s no guarantee in life if you don’t get opportunities. But my dad always believed in hard work, and everything I have is a result of that work.” IND vs ENG:  Experts want Shubman Gill to open in Tests Known for playing big knocks in domestic cricket where he already has 14 First-Class hundreds including the best score of 301 not out, Sarfaraz spoke about his routine and shred that he enjoys spending more time in the middle. “My strength is that I am not satisfied easily. I play 500-600 balls every day. If I don’t play at least 200-300 balls in a match, I feel like I haven’t done much. It’s a habit now. Practice in the morning, afternoon, and evening. I am used to only one thing, batting and facing deliveries. If you want to play five-day cricket, you have to stay patient and practice every day. I play cricket all day and that’s why I can stay on the pitch for a long time,” he explained. Talking about his idols, the 26-year-old said that he always follows the in-form batters to take valuable lessons about batting. “I like to watch Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Sir Vivian Richards, and even Javed Miandad because my dad has told me that I play like him. I watch Joe Root’s batting also. Anyone who is succeeding, I am watching them to see how they are doing it so I can learn and apply it when I am in the middle. I want to continue doing this, whether it’s in the Ranji Trophy or playing for India in the future,” he said. Catch all the live action from India vs England – 2nd Test, Day One, Friday, 9:30 AM onwards, LIVE & Exclusive on JioCinema, Sports18 1 (SD +HD) and Colors Cineplex (SD+HD)