Anil Kumble praised Sarfaraz Khan’s debut innings in Rajkot, highlighting his confidence and expressing that Sarfaraz’s performance reflected seasoned expertise rather than a rookie’s debut.
Anil Kumble, speaking on ‘Match Centre Live’ after Day 1 of the 3rd India-England Test in Rajkot, praised Sarfaraz Khan’s debut innings of 62, noting that the young batter’s performance contradicted any notion of it being his first Test match.
Emphasizing Sarfaraz’s confidence against spinners, Kumble commended his approach and shot selection, highlighting his ability to adapt to the demands of Test cricket. Despite facing challenges from Mark Wood, Sarfaraz’s innings was characterized by fluency, showcasing his promising talent and composure under pressure.
“It never looked like it was his first Test innings. We all know about the talent he has and we have seen him dominate spin at the domestic level. But at the Test level, you need a completely different mindset and to have that approach and play that free-flowing innings was brilliant,” Kumble said.
“He was certainly tested by Mark Wood, but coming in and dominating the spinners was outstanding. And the way he batted – more than a run a ball with the kind of shot selection, he was very assured in his approach. After he took the bowlers on, the next ball was played on the backfoot just to maneuver that single and get off strike. Brilliant batting from Sarfaraz,” he added.
Kumble also discussed the Jadeja-Sarfaraz partnership, noting Sarfaraz’s dominance and Jadeja’s cautious approach. Analyzing Jadeja’s century, he praised the all-rounder’s resilience under pressure, noting his crucial partnership with skipper Rohit Sharma. Kumble further highlighted Jadeja’s consistent contributions with both bat and ball, underlining his importance to the team’s success in recent years.
Last Updated on February 16, 2024
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