Sarfaraz Khan was given his maiden test cap for India with wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, in the 3rd Test of the 5-match series at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, now known as Niranjan Shah Stadium, in Rajkot.
India have rewarded 26-year-old Sarfaraz Khan for his prolific form in domestic cricket.
Sarfaraz Khan was given his debut Test cap from Indian spinner Anil Kumble.
As Sarfaraz Khan donned his test shirt, the familiar number 97 was emblazone on his back.
If you don’t know, Sarfaraz Khan has sport the unique number from his childhood right through Under-19 cricket and the Indian Premier League as well.
The story behind Sarfaraz Khan choosing that exact number is even more unique.
Sarfaraz Khan had once explain that his father, who name is Naushad Khan, a renown coach in the Mumbai cricket circuit, is the inspiration.
His father’s name, is a loose combination of the Hindi numbers 9 and 7, which is nau (9) and saat (7) and hence the tribute to his father.
Sarfaraz Khan was in tears with his father after being given with the debut India cap and the pair emerge in an emotional moment before the start of play.
At the time of writing this article Sarfaraz Khan scored his maiden half century in test cricket on debut.
India made two more changes as Ravindra Jadeja, who miss the 2nd Test due to a hamstring injury, came back for Axar Patel and Mohammed Siraj came into the playing 11 in place of Mukesh Kumar.
The 5-match Test series is currently tied at 1-1.
India won the 2nd Test by 104 runs to level the series after England took the opener by 28 runs.
