Only Don Bradman ahead of him! Sarfaraz Khan breaking records in first-class cricket
Opportunities to rock the T20s via the IPL may have been rare for Sarfaraz Khan, but the talented right-hander has been prolific with the bat in first-class cricket.
Ever since his return to Mumbai for the start of the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy season, the pocket-size dynamo has been nailing one hundred after the other playing for the domestic cricket powerhouse.
Sarfaraz has scored as many as six hundreds, including a triple century and two double centuries, in his previous 13 matches of the Ranji Trophy. With his latest 153 against Uttarakhand in the 2022 Ranji Trophy quarter-final, it is seven tons.
The youngster now averages above 80 in first-class cricket with seven hundreds and 2,252 runs next to his name at a tender age of 24. Only Sir Don Bradman averages higher than Sarfaraz Khan in first-class cricket at a minimum bar of 2000 runs.
Highest averages in first-class cricket (min 2000 runs)
Don Bradman – 95.14
𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘇 𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗻 – 𝟴𝟬+
Vijay Merchant – 71.64
George Headley – 69.86
Bahir Shah – 69.02#SarfarazKhan #RanjiTrophy #RanjiTrophy2022— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) June 7, 2022
Highest averages in first-class cricket (min 2000 runs)
Don Bradman – 95.14
𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘇 𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗻 – 𝟴𝟬+
Vijay Merchant – 71.64
George Headley – 69.86
Bahir Shah – 69.02#SarfarazKhan #RanjiTrophy #RanjiTrophy2022— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) June 7, 2022
Often decried over for his physical being, Sarfaraz, by piling on consistent big scores in the red-ball game, has also dispelled doubts around his cricketing fitness, with none of his seven hundreds ending below the 150-mark.
Sarfaraz Khan currently has more than 2,200 first-class runs at an average over 80 with 7 hundreds.
None of his previous six hundreds have ended below 150. Two double hundreds, one triple hundred and two 150-plus scores.
What a talent! pic.twitter.com/Hku5mLi8Nc
— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) June 7, 2022
Sarfaraz Khan’s time for higher recognition?
Sarfaraz Khan’s great run feels even more remarkable in context that the young gun has maintained his characteristically explosive batting approach. The 24-year-old has a first-class strike-rate of 71.76 over 32 innings, featuring 243 fours and 43 sixes.
In the ongoing Ranji season, Sarfaraz has carried a strike-rate of 72.65 while averaging an incredible 140.8 for his 704 runs. The freeflowing right-hand bat has been dominated Ranji attacks for a while and had scores of 275, 63, 48 and 165 during the league stage in March heading into the quarterfinal this week against Uttarakhand.
Sarfaraz Khan’s first-class numbers 👏👏👏
Innings – 33
Runs – 2252
Average – 80.42
100s – 4
200s – 2
300s – 1
SR – 71.94#RanjiTrophy #RanjiTrophy2022 pic.twitter.com/ikkaLB7HB1— CricXtasy (@CricXtasy) June 7, 2022
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In the first knock-out, on Day 1 this Monday (June 6), Sarfaraz walked in at No.5 with Mumbai slightly unsettled at 176/3 and produced another century (153 off 205 balls) to help the side take a position of real strength in Karnataka.
He would be hoping to continue his rich vein of form and earn higher recognition with India A tours and a potential entry into India’s Test squad for the very first time.
