IND vs AUS: Sarfaraz Khan's trip for Border-Gavaskar trophy confirmed from Mumbai

Sarfaraz Khan impressed one and all with his remarkable performance in the ongoing first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, with Sanjay Manjrekar hailing the batter as a crucial player for India’s upcoming crucial Test tour of Australia.

The cricket pandit said that Sarfaraz Khan is going to give migraines to the Australian bowlers in the upcoming Test series following his Bengaluru knock. He also insisted that the Mumbai batter must be part of India’s XI on the Australia tour thanks to the range of shots he has.

Sanjay Manjrekar backs Sarfaraz Khan for Australia tour

He showcased his resilience and skill on the challenging pitch of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru by playing a game-changing knock of 150 runs off 195 balls, studded with 18 boundaries and three sixes on Day 4 of the ongoing first Test against New Zealand.

Sanjay Manjrekar was highly impressed by Sarfaraz Khan's ability to handle fast bowlers on a tricky surface at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, emphasizing that his adaptability makes him an ideal candidate for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia.

Sanjay Manjrekar was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo: “Very happy to see the way he plays fast bowlers, and he has played fast bowlers before as well against England. This was a pitch very similar to the foreign pitches that we get, where there is a bit of pace and bounce. Interestingly, I am imagining him on a flatter pitch in Australia, where there isn't a lot of seam movement.”

Sarfaraz Khan is going to give migraines to Australian bowlers: Sanjay Manjrekar

With pitches Down Under known for their pace and bounce, Manjrekar reckons that Sarfaraz’s calm demeanor and exceptional hand-eye coordination could pose a serious threat to Australia’s star-studded bowling lineup, featuring Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood.

Majrekar further noted, “He is going to give migraines to those Australian bowlers because of the shots that he plays. There is certainty, there is calmness, and if you see the close-up of Sarfaraz, he watches the ball always on his bat. He has tremendous hand-eye coordination. His technique isn't bad for Australia because he plays besides the line of the ball, which is always advantageous, and that shot to get to 100, some backfoot play as well.”

As India gears up for the highly anticipated five-match Test series in Australia, Sanjay Manjrekar said that Sarfaraz Khan’s name is now firmly in the mix for a spot in the playing XI, especially due to the orthodox shots he has.

Sarfaraz should walk into the Indian playing XI on the Australia tour: Sanjay Manjrekar

Sarfaraz’s ability to adjust to the conditions and handle the pressure makes him a strong contender to take on Australia’s fierce bowling attack. And Manjrekar backed Sarfaraz to play at No. 4 or No. 5 to give a serious headache to Australia.

The commentator signed off by saying, “So, he can play those orthodox shots so he's not just one-way traffic, you know, getting 70 percent of his runs in third man and fine leg. So, I'll be very excited to see how he goes and he's a definite candidate, should walk into that Indian playing XI at that position, maybe five, if not four, five and where the Kookaburra ball goes a little soft. Excited with the possibilities.”

Will Sarfaraz Khan feature in India's Test XI in Australia? 🤔#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/jIXAcTUte0

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 20, 2024

With his maiden Test century already under his belt, expectations are high that Sarfaraz could be a game-changer for Team India in their quest to record a hat-trick of Test series wins on Australian soil when they face the Kangaroos in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.