'The nights that he has slept without food' - Sarfaraz Khan's father reveals being tough on his son to teach life lessons

In the 3rd Test against England, Sarfaraz Khan entered the grand stage of Test cricket with a blazing debut. His fiery 62 off 66 deliveries on Day 1 at Niranjan Shah Stadium left spectators awestruck. Witnessing his son's milestone, Naushad Khan, filled with emotion, shed tears as Sarfaraz handed him the coveted Test cap, fulfilling a long-held dream. Reflecting on his journey, Sarfaraz's father confessed to being tough on him during his upbringing.

Despite consistent brilliance in the Ranji Trophy, the Mumbai batter's national call-up remained elusive for years. However, fate smiled upon him with the absence of stalwarts like Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer, paving his way into the Indian team. His aggressive batting style and adeptness against spinners particularly caught the attention on home turfs.

"I have been harsh to him, but that has been done to him for a reason. The nights that he has slept without food, that was to teach him how the people sleeping on the footpath felt. We had a car but forced him to travel by train so that he learns the hardships of life," Naushad revealed as quoted by India Today.

"It was my dream that what I could not do, he will. It felt like I wore the Test cap through him. He has been in a tight regime since his childhood. He has never flown kites, nor gone to hang out with his friends. He used to wake up early in the morning and go to practice. Later he would return home in the evening and practice again. When he received the cap, it felt worth it," he added.

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Sarfaraz reveals wearing India cap was his utmost priority

In a twist of fate, Sarfaraz met an untimely end through a run-out on Day 1, though he had already etched his name in the hearts of Indian cricket enthusiasts. Addressing the media after Day 1 of the Rajkot Test, he disclosed that donning the whites for India had been his lifelong aspiration. With deep reverence, he credited his father, his childhood mentor, for guiding him through the rigors of the game. He also expressed relief, feeling a burden lifted off his shoulders with his Test debut.

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