'Sarfaraz Khan is 2024 version of Javed Miandad' - Sanjay Manjrekar compares youngster to Pakistan legend after Bengaluru knock

Sanjay Manjrekar was effusive in his praise for Sarfaraz Khan after the youngster smashed a belligerent half-century in India's second innings in the first Test against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday, October 18. The Mumbai batter didn't get an opportunity to play against Bangladesh in the preceding series after producing some impressive performance against England earlier this year. However, after Shubman Gill was ruled out of the first Test due to neck stiffness, it opened the door for Sarfaraz's comeback and the right-handed batter didn't disappoint.

In the first innings, in testing conditions, Sarfaraz tried to break the shackles with an aerial shot but was caught at mid-off. He could only manage a three-ball duck in the innings. However, that didn't deter his spirits as he played some awe-inspiring strokes in the second innings against the potent New Zealand bowlers on Day 3 and raced to 70 off 78 balls at Stumps.

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Manjrekar compared the 26-year-old to the legendary Pakistan batter Javed Miandad. The former India cricketer noted that Sarfaraz is a good player of spin bowling but was also impressive against the fast bowlers.

“He (Sarfaraz) reminds me of a Javed Miandad of the 1980s but this is a 2024 version of a Javed Miandad. Really impressed with the way he played. We know Sarfaraz plays spin well, but I liked the way he played fast bowlers,” Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.

Loved the way he was ducking to bouncers: Sanjay Manjrekar

Manjrekar was also pleased to see Sarfaraz ducking bouncers towards the latter stages on Day 3, showing his eagerness to remain unbeaten at Stumps. 

“And towards the end of the (third) day's play when he was looking to play defensively and wanting bad light when there was actually bright light. I loved the way he was ducking to bouncers, just trying to play the day out so he has that game as well and that augurs well for India and Sarfaraz Khan for Australia because he has shown that element of batting as well,” Manjrekar added.

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After conceding a huge lead of 356 runs in the first innings, Sarfaraz and Kohli made sure of bringing the deficit down to 125 with a scintillating 136-run partnership. On Day 4, Sarfaraz and India would want to wipe out the deficit without losing too many wickets and then set a target for the tourists.