On Day 3 of the India A vs India B match in the 2024 Duleep Trophy, Sarfaraz Khan played a quickfire knock of 46 runs off just 36 balls. During the innings, he smashed 5 fours in a row off Akash Deep, who is the leading wicket-taker in the match with 6 scalps. While the top order adopted a defensive approach against Akash, Sarfaraz Khan decided to attack him and shifted the pressure.
Sarfaraz Khan smashed 5 fours in 5 balls in Duleep Trophy 2024
It happened in the 10th over, when India B batter Sarfaraz Khan had only faced 6 deliveries at the crease. Sarfaraz left the very first ball of the over but then followed up by hitting 5 fours in a row. It was classic batting, with impeccable timing that earned the Mumbai-born batter 20 runs in just 5 balls. On the other hand, this ruined Akash Deep’s spell, as he had previously taken 2 wickets in four overs, conceding only 6 runs
This aggressive approach by batters like Sarfaraz Khan adds a different flavor to Test cricket. In today’s innings, he was well supported by his skipper, Rishabh Pant, who shares similar attacking instincts. Both batted with a strike rate over 100. Sarfaraz fell just 4 runs short of his fifty, while Pant scored 61 off 47 balls, including two sixes.
4⃣4⃣4⃣4⃣4⃣
Sarfaraz Khan on 🔥
He hits five fours in an over, off Akash Deep!
What delightful strokes 👌#DuleepTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank
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— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) September 7, 2024
Indian selectors have their eyes on the Duleep Trophy as they prepare to announce the squad for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh before September 12. However, Sarfaraz Khan, ahead of the series, remarked that he has no expectations regarding his selection, as the injured players he had replaced during the England series are now fit and available for selection.
Despite this, Sarfaraz Khan has made a strong impression in his 3-match Test career. In 5 innings against England, he scored 200 runs, including three fifties, with a strike rate of nearly 80. In that series, he was named as KL Rahul’s replacement, but with KL Rahul now back, it will be interesting to see who gets picked for the squad.
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Meanwhile, Sarfaraz’s younger brother, Musheer Khan, grabbed attention in the Duleep Trophy by scoring 181 runs off 373 balls. Unlike Sarfaraz, Musheer has adopted a defensive approach, which makes him a good anchor in the top order. Musheer also aspires to don the Indian whites like his brother in the near future.
