Sarfaraz Khan’s remarkable debut performance against England’s spinners wasn’t a mere stroke of luck. It was the culmination of over 15 years of relentless dedication and perseverance. From the tender age of youth, Sarfaraz honed his craft, facing a staggering 500 deliveries daily under the watchful gaze of his dedicated father, Naushad Khan. His stellar debut in Rajkot, marked by two confident half-centuries, firmly establishes his position in the Indian cricket team. A product of years of hard work in the domestic circuit and rigorous training at his father’s ‘Macho Cricket Club,’ the 26-year-old has truly arrived on the international stage.
The meticulous planning and relentless efforts, especially during the challenging Covid lockdowns, bore fruit as Sarfaraz confidently faced formidable opponents like Tom Hartley, Joe Root, and Rehan Ahmed in Rajkot.
“It’s been years of relentless practice, facing deliveries from off-spinners, leg-spinners, and left-arm spinners across iconic grounds like Oval, Cross, and Azad Maidans in Mumbai,” revealed a coach closely associated with Sarfaraz’s journey.
“…during the lockdown, he embarked on a 1,600 km car journey. From Mumbai to Amroha, Moradabad, Meerut, Kanpur, Mathura, and Dehradun, he ventured to traditional akhadas, where the ball turns viciously, testing his mettle,” he added.
Sarfaraz’s adept handling of spinners is a testament to his unwavering determination and hard work.
While Naushad played a pivotal role, the contributions of various coaches cannot be overlooked. Coaches of renowned players like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Gautam Gambhir, and India A captain Abhimanyu Easwaran have all played their part in shaping Sarfaraz’s journey. They facilitated net sessions against spinners, especially during the lockdown period.
“During the lockdown, Naushad reached out to me, and given our shared background from Azamgarh and cricket in Mumbai, I felt compelled to assist,” shared Kapil Pandey.
“During the lockdown, Sarfaraz practiced extensively against Kuldeep at our Kanpur Academy. We arranged T20 matches as the Mushtaq Ali T20 was the primary tournament that season.”
Having grown up honing his skills on Mumbai’s red soil, Sarfaraz possesses a natural flair against spin and exhibits exceptional footwork.
Among significant person in Sarfaraz’s spin mastery is Shami’s coach Badruddin, who affirmed, “I organised his training and nets in Ahmedabad. Both father and son put in tremendous effort. I ensured his accommodation in a hostel and facilitated numerous game opportunities.”
Another coach, witness to Naushad’s training regimen for both Sarfaraz and India U-19 star Musheer, highlighted the rigorous routine they adhered to, even on non-match days.
“From a young age, Sarfaraz has faced hundreds of deliveries. On days without matches, Naushad created an astro turf wicket at home for Sarfaraz to practice against pacers. However, when it came to spin, they headed to the Maidans for open-field training.”
“For red-ball training, Naushad simulated match scenarios. If Mumbai was set to play Tamil Nadu in Chennai, bowlers were instructed to create rough patches akin to day-four pitches with wide cracks.”
The collective efforts bore fruit, evident from Sarfaraz’s commanding performance against England’s spinners in Rajkot.
