Indian cricketer Sarfaraz Khan

 

Sarfaraz Khan

Here’s a detailed profile of Indian cricketer Sarfaraz Khan — his background, career highlights, strengths & weaknesses, and what to watch going forward.

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📌 Basic Profile

• Full name: Sarfaraz Naushad Khan. 

• Date of birth: 22 October 1997. (Birthplace: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. 

• Batting style: Right-handed batter. 

• Bowling style: Part-time leg spin. 

• Role: Middle‐order batsman. 

• Domestic/Franchise teams:

  • Mumbai (domestic) 

  • IPL: Royal Challengers Bangalore (2015-18), Punjab Kings (2019-21), Delhi Capitals (2022-23) 

• International debut: Test cricket for India — 15 February 2024 vs England. 

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🏆 Career Highlights & Notables

• Sarfaraz first attracted attention very early: he scored big in school cricket and youth levels. 

• In domestic first-class cricket he has been exceptional:

  • For example, his FC (first‐class) average is around 65.98 with 16 hundreds in 55 matches. 

• His Test debut was strong: twin fifties on debut. 

• He got married in August 2023 (personal milestone). 

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✔️ Strengths

• Run-making ability: His domestic numbers showcase a hitter of runs, capable of long innings.

• Temperament for red-ball cricket: Given his first-class average, he seems more suited to the longer formats.

• Right batting position: Middle-order gives him chance to stabilise and also accelerate.

• Versatility: Although mainly a batter, his leg-spin offers a bonus.

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⚠️ Weaknesses / Challenges

• Limited impact in shorter formats: His T20 and List A numbers are not as dominant as his FC stats. Selection & opportunity constraints: Despite strong numbers, people question why he hasn’t been more consistently picked. For example:

• “He averages 117 in first-class cricket… still not selected for India A.” 

• Overshadowed by others / team balance: In India’s depth of batting, competition is fierce.

• Converting domestic form to international level: That is always a big step; conditions, quality of bowling, pressure differ.

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🔍 What to Watch Going Forward

• How he adapts to away conditions (England, Australia) where the ball swings or bounces more.

• Whether he can solidify a place in the Indian Test side rather than being in/out.

• Whether he can improve his short-format game (T20/List A) which may boost his all-format value.

• Fitness, consistency, and handling big pressure moments.

• His contribution in IPL or domestic scenes may act as platform for further selections.

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🎯 Why He Matters

• He represents the next generation of Indian batters who have to carry forward legacy while making their own mark.

• His success in domestic cricket shows deep talent and hunger.

• For fans, he is a “watch this space” type — when you see someone dominate domestic first-class cricket this much, you want to see how they translate it internationally.

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