mumbai, india – Sarfaraz Khan, who stood to bat for nearly 10 hours at Cross Maidan in Mumbai, first came to limelight as a student in 2009 when he rewrote the history of the prestigious ground in India’s metropolis, known for producing great batsmen. Ta.
The then 12-year-old scored the highest ever score in the Harris Shield, a tournament known as the holy grail of city schools cricket.
Wearing the traditional cricket whites of a loose-fitting white shirt and track pants, the burly boy from Kurla, a lower-middle-class eastern suburb of the bustling city, scored 439 runs and became a national sensation. caused a stir.
Sarfaraz, who plays for Rizvi Springfield in the under-16 category, hit 56 fours and 12 sixes in his innings, breaking Ramesh Nagdev's 46-year-old no-out record of 427. Along the way, Sarfaraz surpassed another Ramesh score – 346 runs scored by cricket legend Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar in 1988.
After Sarfaraz's record-breaking feat, local newspapers and national media were quick to point out that he might be the 'next Tendulkar', but the genius player was forgotten.
For years, Sarfaraz had been sweating it out on the Maidan in Mumbai, building an illustrious career in first-class cricket and waiting for his call-up to the national squad.
But as the seasons passed and opportunities seemed to slip through his grasp, Sarfaraz found himself in the shadows. He watched the batsmen who came after him like Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw and Yashasvi Jaiswal reach the big stage.
After waiting for the moment for a decade, the gutsy batsman finally found himself donning the Indian Test cap last month.
On February 15, 14 years after his record-breaking performance with the Maidans, Sarfaraz made his Test debut against England in Rajkot, Gujarat.
Sarfaraz was given the nomination by the selection committee after he was forced to sit out the final due to absences and injury.
Sarfaraz said in an interview with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), “I am proud to have been chosen out of a population of over 1.4 billion people.''
After receiving the cap from former captain Anil Kumble to applause from his teammates, Sarfaraz rushed to his father and wife to celebrate.
Realizing that his arduous journey to the top was finally over, Sarfaraz's father and coach Naushad kissed his hat and shed tears.
“It was Abu’s.” [my father’s] First of all, my dream is to play for India,'' Sarfaraz said.
“Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Things weren't like that. [financially] I'm that strong at home. Then he decided to focus on the kids and worked hard for me…this was the proudest moment of my life. ”
Naushad, who turned from a player to a coach, finally found a new perspective.
“Earlier, I used to wonder why my dreams were not becoming a reality… But after Sarfaraz received his India cap, my thoughts changed,” he said.
“I would like to say to all the kids who are working hard: Give yourself a night. The sun will eventually rise.”
“Everyone's talking about him.”
On his debut day, Sarfaraz came to bat at number six and had to wait four hours before scoring his first run.
The 26-year-old scored a half-century in his first innings and seemed all set for his maiden Test hundred, but a miscommunication with Ravindra Jadeja led to him conceding 62 runs.
He maintained a score of 68 not out till the second innings as India comfortably won the match and took a 2-1 series lead, becoming the fourth Indian cricketer to score twin fifties on Test debut.
Sarfaras became the talk of the town.
At the very Maidan where Sarfaraz's journey began, the coach and the young cricketer were in awe.
It was a proud moment for Mohammed Akram Shaikh, who trained with Sarfaraz at Mumbai's popular Azad Maidan club about 10 years ago.
“Watching him play made me feel really happy,” said Shaikh, who runs a cricket academy, pointing to the goosebumps on his hands. “I was so proud of the kids who played here and made such strides.”
During his school days, Sarfaraz often tested himself against bowlers much older than him, and by the age of 17 he was representing Mumbai in India's top-tier Ranji Trophy.
He represented India in the ICC U-19 World Cup in 2014 and 2016 and made his debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
However, he had to endure a 10-year wait for his first Test call-up, playing 46 first-class cricket and averaging an impressive 70.
“Sarfaraz had to wait for a long time but now everyone is talking about him so he got the chance at the right time,” Shaikh said.
double hundred
double fiftyThis duo of Yashasvi and Sarfaraz is a double problem for England. Although I wasn't able to watch them play live, I was very happy to hear how they played. Keep it up! 🏏 🇮🇳 #INDVENG pic.twitter.com/54XVb35HCs
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 18, 2024
magic of maidan
Sarfaraz hails from Mumbai's iconic Maidan, which has produced some of India's best batsmen, including the legendary Tendulkar, current Test captain Rohit Sharma, former captain Sunil Gavaskar and batting great Vijay Merchant. This is the latest success story.
Maidans is the home of cricket in Mumbai.
On the red soil of the dusty fields, dreams take root and aspirations grow as the boys hone their skills from early morning until evening, often under the scorching sun.
Known as cricket nurseries, these maidans often have uneven outfields filled with stones and rocks. The field is not well maintained, and trash is scattered around.
Azad Maidan has 22 pitches. All but one of these pitches overlap, making it difficult for players to avoid balls from adjacent pitches.
The surface tests players in a variety of conditions, and for batsmen, the standard is to score 100 points.
“Anyone who can play here can play anywhere in the world because the wickets here are very difficult,” Shaikh said. “The ball bounces well because the surface is uneven.
“Both bowlers and batsmen are challenged here and even when you're fielding it can be difficult because sometimes the ball can hit you in the face.”
Izhaan Shaikh, a youngster from Goa, had a chance to practice on the field with Sarfaraz last year.
Ishaan, who trains at the Macho Cricket Academy run by Sarfaraz's family, said Sarfaraz often gave tips to young players.
“Salfbai” [brother Sarfaraz] He is a very hardworking person. His story inspires me,” the 20-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, who is coached by Sarfaraz's younger brother Moin, told Al Jazeera.
“He proved to me that if you work hard, you can get a happy ending in the end.”
“Incredible commitment”
Fitness issues, a failed transfer from Mumbai to the Uttar Pradesh team in domestic cricket and an injury forced Sarfaraz to come back for a while, but he has performed well in the last four domestic seasons.
Deepak Lotlikar, ground manager of the Karnataka State Sports Association at Cross Maidan, has witnessed Sarfaraz's struggles up close.
“I've been watching Sarfaraz play since I was a kid,” Lotlikar said. “He was a bit naughty as a kid, goofy too. But he had a huge passion for cricket. His dedication was incredible.”
Lotlikar was in Meydan with Sarfaraz's younger brother Moin when the selection for India was announced.
“When I told Moin the news, he was very emotional,” Lotlikar said with wet eyes. “He put his head on my shoulder and started crying. So did all of us in Meydan.”
Sarfaraz is playing his fourth and fifth Test and lifted the series winner's trophy last week. It remains to be seen whether the 200-run scorer in three innings will remain in the Test team after the likes of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul return, but Sarfaraz will be an inspiration to young cricketers at Cross Maidan. He has achieved sufficient results.
For 10-year-old Mudassar Shaikh, Sarfaraz is already a hero.
“I hope to be like Sarfaras someday,” he said with a smile.