India’s talented batter Sarfaraz Khan is set to miss Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy opener against Baroda on October 11. Following his match-winning performance in the Irani Cup last week, where he scored an unbeaten 222*, Sarfaraz will be at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for fitness assessments, according to reports.

Sarfaraz to Get a Call-up for IND vs NZ

With India’s Test squad announcement for the upcoming series against New Zealand imminent, Sarfaraz is expected to be in contention for a place. Mumbai will be playing Baroda in their opening Ranji Trophy game, followed by a home match against Maharashtra on October 18. These games coincide with the India-New Zealand Test series set to begin on October 16 in Bengaluru, where Sarfaraz could be a key inclusion.

Sarfaraz’s Irani Trophy Heroics

Sarfaraz’s recent heroics in the Irani Trophy saw him lead Mumbai to victory against the Rest of India team. His monumental 222-run knock in the first innings helped Mumbai post a total of 537 runs. Despite the match ending in a draw, Mumbai was declared the winner due to a higher first-innings score, further cementing Sarfaraz’s importance in the domestic circuit.

Mumbai Ranji Squad for First Two Matches

The Mumbai selectors have named the squad for their first two Ranji matches. The squad includes captain Ajinkya Rahane, along with notable names like Prithvi Shaw, Shardul Thakur, and Shreyas Iyer.

Mumbai Ranji Squad: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Prithvi Shaw, Ayush Mhatre, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Shreyas Iyer, Siddhessh Lad, Suryansh Shedge, Hardik Tamore (WK), Sidhaant Addhatrao (WK), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Himanshu Singh, Shardul Thakur, Mohit Avasthi, Mohd. Juned Khan, Royston Dias.

Sarfaraz Khan, known for his impressive performances in the domestic circuit, is currently not part of any team for the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite stints with several franchises over the years, he hasn’t fully showcased his talent in the IPL. Here’s a closer look at Sarfaraz Khan’s previous IPL salary, team history, and performance stats.

Sarfaraz Khan’s IPL Salary Breakdown

Career Summary

• Debut & Teams: Sarfaraz made his IPL debut for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2015 and played for them until 2018. He then moved to Punjab Kings from 2019 to 2021 before joining the Delhi Capitals (DC) in 2022. DC released him before the IPL 2024 season.
• Salary Progression: Starting at a modest ₹5 lakh with RCB in 2015, his salary peaked at ₹3 crore in 2018. For Punjab Kings, he earned ₹25 lakh per season from 2019 to 2021, and with DC, his salary was ₹20 lakh in 2022 and 2023.

Sarfaraz Khan IPL Stats

• Matches: 50
• Runs Scored: 585
• Batting Average: 22.50
• Highest Score: 67
• Fours: 63
• Sixes: 14

Sarfaraz Khan, despite being a promising talent, is yet to make a significant mark in the IPL. With an average of 22.50 over 50 matches and a top score of 67, he has room to improve if given future opportunities in the tournament.

Sarfaraz Khan’s unbeaten 221, supported by half-centuries from Ajinkya Rahane (97) and Tanush Kotian (64), powered Mumbai to a dominant position over Rest of India (ROI) on Day 2 of the Irani Cup in Lucknow. By stumps, Mumbai stood at 536 for 9, with Sarfaraz anchoring the innings through substantial partnerships and aggressive stroke play.

Key Moments of the Day

• Strong Start with Rahane and Sarfaraz: Continuing from their overnight score of 237/4, Rahane and Sarfaraz kept the pressure on ROI’s bowlers, building a 131-run stand. Rahane missed a century, falling to a short delivery at 97, while Sarfaraz carried on, reaching his double-ton.
• Sarfaraz’s Masterclass: His 276-ball knock featured 25 fours and two sixes, marked by partnerships of 131 runs with Rahane and 83 runs with Kotian. Sarfaraz survived a dropped catch on 91 and quickly converted that chance into a hundred in the following over.
• Kotian’s Supporting Act: Kotian’s patient fifty (104 balls) and partnership with Sarfaraz allowed Mumbai to have a wicketless second session, adding crucial runs and keeping up the momentum.
• Late Flourish with Thakur: Shardul Thakur’s 73-run partnership with Sarfaraz helped the latter reach his 200. Both batters attacked Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar, finding the boundary with ease before Thakur was bowled out in the final over of the day.

Mumbai’s Innings Summary

Mumbai’s steady batting ensured they piled on runs, ending Day 2 at 536 for 9. Sarfaraz’s double-hundred was the highlight, while Rahane narrowly missed a ton. Kotian’s support and partnerships throughout the day kept ROI bowlers under pressure.

Brief Scores: Mumbai 536/9 (Sarfaraz Khan 221*, Ajinkya Rahane 97, Tanush Kotian 64; Mukesh Kumar 4-109) vs Rest of India.

Sarfaraz Khan showcased his batting prowess by hitting his second Irani Cup century for Mumbai, playing a pivotal role in stabilizing the innings alongside Ajinkya Rahane against Rest of India. On Day 2 of the Irani Cup 2024-25 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, Sarfaraz scored a remarkable 103 off 149 balls, including 14 boundaries, marking his 15th First-Class century. This comes after his earlier ton against Saurashtra in the 2022 edition of the tournament.

Crucial Partnership with Ajinkya Rahane

Sarfaraz walked in when Mumbai was in a tricky position at 139 for four. He went on to build a crucial 131-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Rahane. Although Rahane narrowly missed his century, getting out for 97, the stand played a vital role in steadying the Mumbai innings.

Irani Cup Day 2 Status

By Day 2, Mumbai stood at 338 for six, with Sarfaraz still at the crease on 103 and Tanush Kotian supporting him with 26 runs. For the Rest of India, Mukesh Kumar was the standout bowler, claiming four wickets, while Yash Dayal picked up two. Earlier on Day 1, Rest of India’s captain Ruturaj Gaikwad had opted to field, with Mumbai putting up 237/4 in 68 overs.

Sarfaraz’s century and partnership with Rahane have set a solid foundation for Mumbai in this crucial match.

In an exciting development for Indian cricket, brothers Sarfaraz Khan and Musheer Khan will play together in the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2024-25. Both have been named in Team B, which will be led by Bengal’s Abhimanyu Easwaran.

Key Highlights:

• Sarfaraz Khan’s Form: Sarfaraz has been a batting sensation in India’s longest format, with an impressive first-class record of 4112 runs in 48 matches at an average of 68.53.
• Musheer Khan’s Emergence: Musheer, the younger Khan, is quickly making a name for himself in the domestic circuit. In just six first-class matches, he has scored 529 runs at an average of 58 and has also taken seven wickets, showing his potential as an all-rounder.
• Team B Lineup: The brothers will be part of a star-studded Team B, which includes players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Siraj.

Duleep Trophy 2024-25 Full Squads