Following his incredible debut in India’s recent 4-1 Test series victory over England, young batting sensation Sarfaraz Khan has become an overnight sensation. Batter Sarfaraz Khan was one of five rookies from India who participated in the historic series victory led by captain Rohit Sharma. In the three Tests he played, he scored three half-centuries, making an immediate impression.
The 26-year-old recently made an appearance at the India Today Conclave in New Delhi, where he revealed some startling details about how popular he has become on Instagram. The Mumbai native revealed that he has amassed more than 1.5 million Instagram followers since making his debut in India.
During his speech at the India Today Conclave 2024 in New Delhi, Sarfaraz made light of the enormous surge in his popularity on social media. “I have between 600k and 700k Instagram followers over the past four years. After representing India, it has suddenly increased to 1.5 million. It’s good,” said Sarfaraz.
Batter Sarfaraz Khan:
The selectors’ faith in the young player was evident from his scores of 62 & 68* in Rajkot, 14 & 0 in Ranchi, and 56 in Dharamsala during his debut Test. Sarfaraz’s lengthy wait for a Test cap adds to his impressive ability to adapt so quickly.
Sarfaraz recalled his emotional debut with his father Naushad Khan, saying, “I have heard stories about the significance of Test cricket since I was a child. It’s not like there was no pressure—I felt pressure when I played my first series, as my father would constantly remind me, regarding the significance of the longest format of the game.”
The significance of the moment was encapsulated by his father Naushad’s emotional response on Day 1 in Rajkot upon receiving his Test cap. Sarfaraz gave the cap to his father, who kissed it and broke down in tears.
Sarfaraz engaged with his expanding fan base on Instagram while sharing pictures and videos from his journey throughout the series. He even distributed fan-made memes honouring his performances. Dhruv Jurel, another debutante, joined Sarfaraz at the conclave. Over the course of the three Tests, Jurel scored 190 runs.
When it mattered most, the wicketkeeper came through. In the opening half of the 4th Test in Ranchi, he scored 90 runs to rescue India from a precarious position. For his outstanding performance, he was even given the Player of the Match award.
The 23-year-old cricketer discussed England’s Bazball strategy, saying, “It’s their style of playing Test cricket. Indians play Test cricket in a particular way. Why not make the most of all five of your playing days? You need to win sessions to succeed in Test cricket. You have to stay put and win sessions if you have to play Test cricket.”
Dhruv Jurel will be competing for the Rajasthan Royals in the upcoming Indian Premier League 2024. In contrast, Sarfaraz, who was passed over by all teams in this year’s lucrative tournament, might be called up in the event that an injury occurs.
So, this was all about the Indian batter Sarfaraz Khan. Also read, Viral video: Cricketer Jofra Archer plays for Karnataka
