All that Sarfaraz Khan wanted since the beginning of his cricket journey as a six-year-old was to become an international player in front of his father. (More Cricket News)
Two decades later, that dream came true on Thursday for the Mumbaikar when he 𒈔was handed h🦄is Test cap ahead of the third match against England by no less than former captain Anil Kumble with his father Naushad watching tearfully.
As was expected, he proved his worth with a half century which could have been a bigger knock if not for the run out at non-striker's end following a 💫mix up with unbeaten centurion Ravindra Jadeja.
The 2ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ💖ᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ6-year-old was, however, too happy to have any complaints.
"Coming to the ground for the first time and getting the cap in front of my father. I was six-years-old when he started my cricket (training). It was my dream to play for the Indian team in front of him," Sarfaraz told the medi🗹a here after the end of day's play in which India were 326/5.
India's Test cap No 311, Sarfaraz gave a fine account of himself with a rapiꦅd 62.
Naushad was overwhelmed o🤡n Thursday. He had not even planned to visit Rajkot to watch his son but landed in the city on the eve of the game.
Tears, hugs and joy swept through the Khan family with Sarfaraz's wife present beside his 🌼father.
"I was padded up for almost four hours (in the dressing room). I kept thinking that I have kept so m🦹uch patience in life and there is no harm in keeping some more.
"After I went in, I was nervous for the first few balls but I have practiced and worked so hard that everything went well," Sarfar�🅺�az said detailing his Test experience.
Sarfaraz said runs and performℱances did not matter to him as much as playing for India with his father there to watch him.
"It was my father's dream to play for India but unfortunately it couldn't happen due to some reasons, there wasn't much support from home then. He worked very hard on me 💧and is now doing the same with my brother. It was the proudest moment of my life," he said.
"Runs and performances were not on my mind a෴s much as I was happy playing for ಌIndia in front of my father," he added.
"He was ꦏnot ready to come (to Rajkot) but some people insisted that he goes. Obviously he had to come over since he worked so hard𒁃 only for this day.”
"He was very emotional as I took the cap in front of him and so was my wife. I felt as if some pressure was off my shoulders given the hard work he had put in on me and I did not w🗹aste it," he stated emotions still raw after a whirlwind day.
ALSO READ: Ravindra Jadeja Apologizes To Sarfaraz Khan For 'Wrong Call'
Sarfaraz banished initial nervousness with po♔werful sweeps and lofted hits down the ground but termed his dismis♌sal -- the run out at the non-striker's end -- a case of "miscommunication".
"It is a part of the game. Miscommunication happens in cricket. Sometimes ru💫💟n-out happens, sometimes you get the runs," he said.
"I spok꧋e to Jadeja at lunch time and requested him to talk to me while playing. I like 🧸talking while playing. It was my first time.
"I told him that when I go out to bat, ke🐼ep talking to me while playing. He kept talking andܫ supported me a lot while I was batting," Sarfaraz added.
It is not easy for any player to kee🐲p trudging through years of domestic cricket, piling up runs year after year 🍌and not get a chance in the national side.
When he finally got it, Sarfaraz said the taste of inter🏅national cricket was almost similar to domestic, but with a few obvious differences.
"Init😼ially I was feeling awkward since it has been a long time in anticipation. But later on I felt that I have done all of this, o🐼nce I was in my zone I did not find it difficult," he said.
"Difference is there, you do not 🦹have crowds in first-cl꧋ass cricket and you do not come across national players much," he added.
