Expected to bat in the middle-order, Delhi Capital's uncapped Indian youngster Sarfaraz Khan never went out to bat versus KKR in IPL 2022.
Delhi Capitals (DC) head coach Ricky Ponting attracted heavy criticism after his team’s questionable decision to delay the arrival of uncapped Indian batter Sarfaraz Khan to the pitch for Sunday (April 10) afternoon’s IPL 2022 game against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Expected to bat anywhere between No.3 to 5 in DC’s batting unit, the bright young talent wasn’t sent out to bat even as deep as No.7 in the line-up. DC instead preferred Axar Patel and Shardul Thakur to do the job at the death.
The shocking call made the head of DC’s power centre, former Australian skipper Ponting, a sitting duck to be criticised heavily on social media. Fans went after Ponting, questioning why wasn’t the Sarfaraz Khan sent into bat at the right time?
Having batted really well on his DC debut a match earlier, there was a sense of anticipation around Sarfaraz Khan heading into the KKR encounter. The attacking Mumbai batter had produced a fine knock of 36 not out off 28 deliveries in DC’s loss to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) walking into at No.5.
There were suggestions to promote Sarfaraz to No.3 or No.4 as a spin assaulter. But in a more realistic expectation, the DC think-tank led by Ponting was considered likely to persist with the spot three down in the batting unit for the new Indian recruit.
However, in a shocking turn of events, DC didn’t send Sarfaraz Khan out ever in their first-innings of the game against KKR, placing him down at No.8 in the line-up, below even utility allrounders Thakur and Axar. Subsequently, fans didn’t mince words in letting go their anger over DC’s move on social media.
Here is how many of them reacted to Sarfaraz Khan’s demotion:
This was a good track for Powell to bat. He can hit Varun and Narine too. Yet, I don’t feel it was right to send him over Sarfaraz who is a better player of spin. Understand Ponting wanted to maximize his returns but he should be kept to attack the pacers in the last 5 overs.
— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) April 10, 2022
This was a good track for Powell to bat. He can hit Varun and Narine too. Yet, I don’t feel it was right to send him over Sarfaraz who is a better player of spin. Understand Ponting wanted to maximize his returns but he should be kept to attack the pacers in the last 5 overs.
— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) April 10, 2022
I want the stuff that Ponting is high on. What the hell is Sarfaraz Khan doing in the XI if you want to send Shardul and Axar ahead of him. Unbelievably poor!
— Jaanvi🏏 (@ThatCric8Girl) April 10, 2022
Sarfaraz is fasting. So ponting didn’t called him to bat.
— AB. (@abdsiast) April 10, 2022
Ricky Ponting doesn’t rate Sarfaraz much it looks like.
— Arnab (@ArnabBasu21) April 10, 2022
Why Sarfaraz Khan in the XI?.!Strange from Ponting,last year to Hetmyer & now to Sarfaraz.
— Spidey! (@Cric_spidey) April 10, 2022
sarfaraz khan easily the most unfairly treated played in IPL
— ponting is a fraud (@Poojith91227500) April 10, 2022
Ricky Ponting definitely forgot that Sarfaraz is in the XI. #KKRvDC
— The Short Leg Fielder (@ShortLegFielder) April 10, 2022
Everyone wondering why Sarfaraz Khan not come to bat
Might Ricky Ponting not picked him on #dream11
He don’t want that Sarfaraz come and pick few points @Dream11 #KKRvDC #YehHaiNayiDilli #IPL2022 #CricketTwitter— GUJARAT TITANS (@Gujarat_Titans_) April 10, 2022
Still Powell and no Sarfaraz! Wow that boy must be shattered. #DC #TATAIPL2022 Hopefully Ponting keeps talking to him. Sarfaraz is good against spin and pace.
— Shivaganesh Besetty (@ShivaganeshBes1) April 10, 2022
Pant and Ponting haven’t picked sarfaraz in their fantasy Xi team.
Only possible explanation for not sending in Sarfaraz #IPL2022
— Varun (@varun_vaithy) April 10, 2022
For Sarfaraz Khan as well, personally, the decision to not being sent out to bat at all would’ve hurt the youngster as he would’ve been eyeing an elusive consistent run with DC, his third franchise in the league.
A talent that many feel should’ve played T20Is for India by now, the 24-year-old has never really had a sense of role-clarity and security around his place in the IPL. The last and the only time Sarfaraz played 10 or more innings in an IPL season was back in 2015, he had a strike-rate of 156.33 while averaging 27.75 playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
