'Next time, if I get opportunity, I will definitely get hundred' - Saba Karim reveals interaction with Sarfaraz Khan after England series

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim shared his interaction with Sarfaraz Khan from the Dharamsala Test against England earlier this year.

In that fifth Test, India beat the tourists comprehensively by an innings and 64 runs. Sarfaraz, who had made his debut in the third Test of the series in Rajkot, scored his third Test half-century during the Dharamsala encounter. The cricketer-turned-expert revealed that after getting dismissed for 56 runs off 60 balls, Sarfaraz told him he would get a century the next time he got an opportunity to play for the national team.

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Sarfaraz kept his word as he amassed his maiden Test ton on Day 4 of the first Test between India and New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, October 19.

“I met Sarfaraz Khan after the Dharamsala Test against England. He got out after scoring his fifty, and he told me, 'Next time, if I get an opportunity, I will definitely get a hundred.' This kind of self-belief that Sarfaraz has shown over the past few years has helped him today. The young generation believes so strongly in their ability to play well, score runs, or become match-winners. That confidence helps them get into the groove quickly, and I think we saw that today in Sarfaraz Khan’s innings,” Saba told Jio Cinema.

Saba also congratulated the Sarfaraz’s family, especially his father Naushad Khan, for his passion, dedication, and hard work.

“Kudos to him and his family, who have worked diligently on his batting. The number of hours they’ve put into improving his game really showed today. Everything came together for Sarfaraz,” he added.

India take lead as Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant dominate New Zealand bowlers

Sarfaraz brought up his century off just 109 balls and has gone from strength to strength since then. However, Rishabh Pant has been the more aggressive batter as the duo's partnership has reached three figures and taken India past New Zealand's first-innings lead of 356 runs.

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The pitch is still very good for batting and India will look to set New Zealand as big a target as they can with a considerable amount of time still left in the Test match. Irrespective of the result, Rohit Sharma and Co. will be able to hold their heads high with the kind of fighting spirit they showed in the Test following a disastrous batting performance in the first innings.