'Ponting doesn't have Sarfaraz in his fantasy team' - Fans mock Delhi Capitals for demoting Sarfaraz Khan

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. 
 By Kashish Chadha Apr 10, 2022, 18:09 IST
Sarfaraz Khan KKR vs DC IPL 2022 Match 19 Fans Troll Ricky Ponting for demoting him?width=963&height=541&resizemode=4

The Delhi Capitals think-tank attracted widespread criticism for their call to demote Sarfaraz Khan in the IPL 2022 game versus Kolkata Knight Riders. 

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? 

Fans call out Ponting & company's contentious call to delay Sarfaraz Khan's arrival 

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: 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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). 

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