Indian cricketer Sarfaraz Khan registered a brilliant double century for Mumbai in the Irani Cup 2024 clash against the Rest of India in Lucknow on Wednesday. After being released from India's Test squad for the Bangladesh series, the Mumbai cricketers answered with a memorable innings.
The 26-year-old right-handed batter took just 253 balls to reach a 200-run mark and became the first Mumbai cricketer to record a double century in the Irani Cup history. Sarfaraz also boosted his remarkable numbers in First-Class cricket with his 15th century and also put Mumbai in a dominant position on Day 2 of the Irani Cup.
Captain Ajinkya Rahane and Sarfaraz kicked off Day 2's play from 237 for 4 but the duo managed to add just 33 runs for the fifth wicket. Rahane was dismissed on 97 by Yash Dayal but Sarfaraz kept Mumbai in a comfortable position with a brilliant century and then quickly converted it into a double ton to take Mumbai to 536 for 9 in 138 overs at the end of Day 2.
Sarfaraz remained unbeaten on 221 off 276 balls with the help of 25 fours and four sixes to register the first-highest individual score in tournament history. Tanush Kotian scored a crucial fifty and a bowling all-rounder Shardul Takhur added 36 runs to help Mumbai post a huge total in the first innings.
Sarfaraz was part of the Indian squad for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh but failed to find a place in the playing eleven due to heavy competition for the middle-order places. Sarfaraz made his highly-anticipated Test debut against England after Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant missed the five-match series due to different reasons.
He made an instant impact by scoring 200 runs in five innings against England with the help of three fifties but it was not enough for him to retain his position in the playing eleven upon the return of Kohli and Pant for the Bangladesh series. KL Rahul was preferred in the no.5 position ahead of Pant and the former proved his worth with a crucial fifty in the recent Kanpur Test.
Sarfaraz has scored over 4000 runs in First-Class cricket at an amazing average of almost 70 and is likely to keep his place in the team for India's next Test assignments against New Zealand and Australia.
