"I made a mistake" - Sarfaraz Khan apologizes to Sunil Gavaskar for Dharamsala blunder

Sarfaraz Khan has issued an apology to Sunil Gavaskar for throwing away his wicket during the last Test of the recently concluded five-match Test series between India and England.

After toiling hard for years in domestic cricket, the Mumbai batter finally earned his maiden India call-up for the series against England. He was not a part of the original squad but was added to the squad after injuries ruled KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja out of the second Test. Although he did not play the second game, he was retained in the squad for the last three Tests.

He made his debut in the third Test in Rajkot and announced his arrival at the grand stage in style by smashing a 48-ball fifty. He scored an unbeaten fifty in the second innings of the Test too as India thrashed England by a record margin of 434 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Sarfaraz Khan apologizes to Sunil Gavaskar:

In the fourth Test played in Ranchi, Sarfaraz Khan failed to get going in both the innings. He was out for just 14 and 0 although India went on to win the game by five wickets to take an unassailable 3-1 lead. The right-handed batsman bounced back quickly by scoring a fine fifty in the fifth Test.

India were in a spot of bother after losing centurions Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in quick succession before Sarfaraz Khan and debutant Devdutt Padikkal scored half-centuries to steady the ship for India. The home side went on to win the game by an innings and 64 runs to clinch the series 4-1.

And even though Sarfaraz Khan scored a fifty in the fifth Test, he had to apologize to Sunil Gavaskar for throwing away his wicket. He was batting on 56 off just 59 balls before being dismissed by Shoaib Bashir on the first ball of the post-tea session on Day 2. He tried to guide the delivery towards the third man but ended up edging it to Joe Root at the slip.

“The ball was pitched up; it wasn’t short enough for that shot. Goes for it and pays the price. I mean you are playing the first ball after tea. Give yourself a little sighter. Don Bradman said to me ‘Every ball that I face, even if I am on 200, I think I am on 0.’ And here is [Sarfaraz] is … playing such a shot first ball of the session,” Sunil Gavaskar said while commentating.

After the conclusion of the Test, Sarfaraz Khan realized his mistake and reportedly sent an apology
to Gavaskar via Dubai-based businessman Shyam Bhatia, who had set up the duo’s meeting. According
to a report in the Times Now, Sarfaraz told Bhatia: “Sir, please say sorry to Mr Gavaskar – I
made a mistake! I won’t make that mistake again.”