IND vs ENG: 'Sarfaraz Khan should make Yashasvi Jaiswal his role model,' claims Mohammad Kaif

New Delhi, Feb 15: Prodigal talent Sarfaraz Khan finally made his much-awaited India debut as he became the 311th player to represent the country in Test Cricket. The 26-year-old talented batter from Mumbai made his debut in the third Test match between India and England on Thursday (February 15) at the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) Stadium, Rajkot.

The right-handed batter made the occasion count as he notched up a fine fifty on debut but an unfortunate run out cut the Mumbaikar's knock prematurely, triggering an animated reaction from India captain Rohit Sharma in the dressing room.

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif congratulated Sarfaraz Khan for making his India debut and conveyed his best wishes to the cricketer as well as his family.

Interacting with media persons on the sidelines of a press conference organised by the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) here, the 43-year-old cricketer-turned-commentator said, "It is indeed a matter of pride for his entire family. We saw his younger brother do well in the U19 World Cup. Sarfaraz's father (Naushad Khan) is a hardworking guy. He's worked very hard on his son and finally, his dream came true.

"It is a well-deserved India debut for Sarfaraz he's worked hard to earn that India cap. His first-class average is the sixth-best among Indian batters which is commendable. He's got the opportunity just at the right time."

"I am not a proponent of handing debuts to youngsters prematurely. It's crucial for them to prove their mettle in the domestic circuit before transitioning to international cricket. So, I wish Sarfaraz all the best for the opportunity he's got," the former cricketer from Uttar Pradesh added further.

When asked if Sarfaraz is here to stay, the Kaif - who has played 13 Tests and 129 ODIs for India - advised the middle-order batter to keep fellow Mumbaikar Yashasvi Jaiswal as his role model. Citing the example of the talented left-handed batter, Kaif said Jaiswal also walked into the Indian side amid a lot of competition. Still, the youngster capitalised upon the chances and sealed the opening slot for himself.

"Sarfaraz's role model should be Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made the most of the opportunity and secured his place in the Test team. He scored hundreds, and double hundreds when he got the chance and ensured that no one could drop him. Sarfaraz should also look to play with the same mindset, make the opportunity count and play good knocks. Also, there are lesser expectations from the player who's making his debut. He should look to take a leaf out of Jaiswal's book and do what's in his hands i.e. score runs."

Before being run out for 62 runs off 66 balls in a mix-up with his batting partner Ravindra Jadeja, who scored a century, Sarfaraz displayed confidence and composure at the crease. His ease against the English bowlers suggested his readiness for the international stage, with his dismissal by run-out being the only hiccup in an otherwise promising debut.