The emerging star of Indian Cricket, Sarfaraz Khan has disclosed whether discussions are ongoing with Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises regarding his possible involvement in the upcoming edition of the prestigious T20 tournament.
The 26-year-old batter has featured for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), and Delhi Capitals in this cash-rich league. With a tally of 50 matches, he has been part of 8 seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL) till date.
His performances have not lived up to the expectations of the teams. The young talent has managed to accumulate only 585 runs at an average of 22.50 and a strike rate of 130.58. His highest score in the league stands at 67, which remains his sole fifty-plus score in the tournament.
Although his IPL statistics may not be impressive, rumors were circulating that teams such as Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had shown interest in him after his outstanding performance in his debut Test series against the England National Cricket Team at home.
Sarfaraz Khan did not find a place in any franchise’s roster during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction. Nevertheless, there remains a possibility for him to be drafted in as a replacement player in the event of injuries affecting the teams.
Speaking to India Today, Sarfaraz Khan said, “In a big IPL season, there are chances of players getting injured, and you get calls. But, what’s in my hand is my hard work. I want to keep working hard. I am not part of the IPL as of now, but if I get a call, I have to be ready for that. I have to continue my practice at home and also keep my red-ball practice going.”
Ashwin’s Century: Rewriting Cricket History against England
He further added, “For the last 4 years, it was 600-700k followers on Instagram. Suddenly, after playing for India, it has become 1.5 million. It’s good,” Sarfaraz Khan said when asked about his Instagram follower count before and after the heroics in the Test series.
Talking further Khan said that he has heard about the importance of playing Test cricket. “From my childhood, I have been hearing stories about the importance of Test cricket. My father kept telling me the importance of the longest format of the game. It’s not like there was no pressure, I felt pressure when playing my maiden series.”
