MS Dhoni vs Virat Kohli vs Gautam Gambhir! 3 IPL teams engaged in battle to sign Sarfaraz Khan for IPL - Reports

India batter Sarfaraz Khan is in contention to get the Indian Premier League (IPL) contract once again for the 17th edition of the league. The batter has been hogging the headlines ever since he set the stage on fire on his Test debut for India in the Test against England in Rajkot.

As per the reports in Anandabazar Patrika, it is learned that as many as three franchises are interested in acquiring the services of Sarfaraz Khan. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) expressed the desire to get the batter as mentor Gautam Gambhir told the team management to rope in the batter to strengthen the batting line-up.

The reports also claimed that Chennai Super Kings are also keen to sign Sarfaraz Khan for the IPL 2024. It is learned that MS Dhoni has given the green signal to the authorities to bid for him. Apart from defending champions, Royal Challengers Bangalore also wants the batter in their team.

Sarfaraz Khan was part of Royal Challengers Bangalore for three IPL seasons between 2015 and 2018. He played decent knocks for the team but after that parted ways with the franchise. He represented Delhi Capitals in 2023 but went unsold in the IPL 2023 auction.

Sarfaraz Khan has played 50 games in IPL between 2015 and 2023. The batter has scored 585 runs with a solitary fifty. He played for Punjab Kings as well between 2019 and 2021 before joining Delhi Capitals in the league. With all the reports around CSK, KKR, and RCB wanting him, it remains to be seen what will be his future in the league.

Sarfaraz Khan was impressive on his debut for India in Test cricket. He scored 68 runs in the first innings as he got run out. He made sure that he made the most of the opportunity in the second innings. The batter slammed another half-century and ended with 62 not out in the second essay.

He looks like the perfect No.6 – Michael Vaughan on Sarfaraz Khan

Impressed with Sarfaraz Khan’s heroics, Michael Vaughan lauded the batter for his staggering debut. He pointed out that the batter is aggressive, plays spin brilliantly, and rotates the strike well, which makes him the perfect No.6 for India. Speaking to Cricbuzz, he explained:

“I said after the first day, he looks like the perfect No.6. He is aggressive, plays spin brilliantly, rotates the strike. So even the good balls are going for ones and twos. And he’s hungry for runs. He has got huge amount of runs in first-class cricket.

When you have done that throughout your career, and you get that opportunity to play for India in Test match-level. He has taken that chance well.”

Sarfaraz Khan will be next seen in action when India will play the fourth Test against England in Ranchi. The match will be played on 23rd February. India is currently leading the series 2-1. The batter would be hoping to go one step ahead in the next match and seal his spot in the team in the longest format of the game.