Sarfaraz Khan To Miss Ranji Trophy Opener For Mumbai. Report Reveals Return Date

08.10.2024 - 09:53 sports.ndtv.com

Prolific batter Sarfaraz Khan will miss Mumbai's Ranji Trophy opener against Baroda from October 11. The Mumbai batter, who played a match-winning 222 not out in their Irani Cup triumph last week, will be at the National Cricket Academy, according to sources.

The Mumbai selectors picked the squad for their first two matches. Defending champions Mumbai face Baroda in an away fixture from October 11, while they face Maharashtra at home from October 18, which will coincide with the India-New Zealand first Test in Bengaluru from October 16.

Sarfaraz is expected to retain his place in the India squad. Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane emphasized the importance of giving players ‘freedom' and ‘confidence' as Mumbai were awarded Rs 1-crore by the Mumbai Cricket Association for their historic Irani Cup triumph.

Rahane-led Mumbai ended a 27-year wait to win the tournament last week in Lucknow, defeating Rest of India on basis of the first-innings lead.

cricket India Cricket Team New Zealand Cricket Team Sarfaraz Khan Ajinkya Rahane New Zealand India

The Indian cricket team is facing severe criticism after losing the Test series at home against New Zealand in Pune. The visiting side is 2-0 up after the first two Tests in the three-match series with a chance of clean sweep not being ruled out. This is the first time after 12 years that India have lost a Test series at home. The last time it happened MS Dhoni was still the captain of the Indian cricket team. The loss has also dented India's chances to qualify for the World Test Championship final.

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Newcomer Sarfaraz Khan has truly made a space for himself in the Indian team, proving to be an influential member for the team, both with the bat and in the field. Fielding at backward short-leg, Sarfaraz somehow managed to convince skipper Rohit Sharma on taking a review despite no other member of the team seemingly being convinced. The end result was that DRS did fin the faintest of contacts between the ball and glove, enough for New Zealand's Will Young to be given out on Day 1 of the second Test in Pune.

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On the back of his maiden Test century, India batter Sarfaraz Khan retained his place in the team for the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. With Shubman Gill making a return after recovering from a stiff neck, India backed Sarfaraz to retain his place, with the team management instead dropping out-of-form batter KL Rahul. Sarafarz hit 150 in the second innings of the 1st Test in Bengaluru, which India lost by eight wickets to the Kiwis last week.

Watch: Rishabh Pant's Kick Prank Scares Sarfaraz Khan. Internet Says 'Missed By Inches'

Rishabh Pant is an entertainer on the field. Be it his instinctive batting or his constant talking from behind the stumps, there is never a dull moment when Pant is around. Even when he is not playing, Pant is no less. In a video that has gone viral after the first day of the second India vs New Zealand Test in Pune, Rishabh Pant can be seen playing a 'kick prank' on Sarfaraz Khan while the team was in a huddle. Sarfaraz moved a step back after Pant's 'attempt'.

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As the Indian team management mulls its options in the middle order for the second Test against New Zealand, all eyes are on the battle between KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan. The latter scored a brilliant hundred in the first Test against Kiwis but there are suggestions that he could be dropped from the team as Shubman Gill returns. Sarfaraz found a place in India's XI after Gill's injury. Now that Gill seems to be fit, chances are high that Sarfaraz will go back to warming the bench while KL Rahul, a batter who hasn't been in form for a long time, will retain his place.

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