Who are the India debutants? Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel handed India Test caps

Soham Mukherjee
and others
• 7 min read
Sarfaraz khan
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Sarfaraz Khan finally received his much-awaited national Test cap from the legendary Anil Kumble ahead of the third Test against England on February 15.

This momentous occasion marked the culmination of years of perseverance and dedication as Sarfaraz had been patiently waiting on the sidelines for his opportunity.

Along with Sarfaraz, Dhruv Jurel was also handed his debut as KS Bharat, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel were dropped from the playing XI. 

Despite consistently piling on runs in the domestic circuit, Sarfaraz had been overlooked by selectors in the past, leading to frustration. However, he remained resilient and continued to maintain his form, eventually earning his maiden international appearance.

The 26-year-old initially caught the eye with powerful performances for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL but truly made a name for himself in the domestic circuit and Ranji Trophy. His remarkable record for Mumbai, where he amassed 3912 runs in 45 first-class matches at an impressive average of 69.85, speaks volumes about his talent and consistency.

Sarfaraz's stellar performances also extended to the India A side, where he showcased his abilities against the England Lions with a fifty and a remarkable 161 in an unofficial Test match.

Sarfaraz Khan's father, Naushad Khan cries inconsolably holding the India Test cap

During the cap presentation ceremony of the Indian cricket team, Sarfaraz Khan's father, Naushad Khan, was visibly moved to tears, unable to contain his emotions.

 

 

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When did Sarfaraz Khan make his First Class debut?

Sarfaraz Khan made his First Class debut for Mumbai in a Ranji Trophy game against Bengal in 2014. As a prodigal 17-year-old, Sarfaraz was destined to make it big, coming through the age group levels. 

Sarfaraz had a forgetful debut in the Ranji Trophy, with Mumbai scoring 414 runs batting first. However, the 17-year-old Khan was dismissed by Ashoke Dinda on the fourth delivery into his debut, scoring a solitary run. 

In 2024, after a decade's worth of hard work, Sarfaraz was rewarded with his maiden call-up to the Indian Cricket Team.

MORE: Sarfaraz Khan called up for India, as KL Rahul and Jadeja set to miss second Test

What is Safaraz Khan's record in First Class cricket?

Sarfaraz has scored over 3900 runs in just 45 matches in First Class career. He has scored at an average of just under 70 and has more centuries than half-centuries in his career. What an astonishing stat, that is!

Years Active Matches Innings Runs Average Strike Rate 50 / 100 High Score
2014 - Present 45 66 3912 69.85 70.48 11 / 14 301*

MORE: Jasprit Bumrah handed one demerit point by ICC

How has Sarfaraz Khan performed in the 2024 season?

Sarfaraz Khan has played a solitary Ranji Trophy game in the 2024 season. The 26-year-old featured for Mumbai in the inaugural game of the season against Bihar. To his disappointment, Khan was knocked off LBW after scoring one run, off Sakibul Gani on the second ball of Khan's innings.

Sarfaraz has missed Mumbai's Ranji Trophy games after being called up to the India A squad to face the England Lions. Sarfaraz was making noises there, knocking on the door to a senior team call-up. And boy! oh boy, were the knocks loud!

Sarfaraz has scored 220 runs in 3 innings for India A against the England Lions. Here is his record for the India A in the ongoing series against the England Lions.

Matches Innings Runs Average Strike Rate 50s 100s High Score
2 3 220 73.33 93.22 1 1 161

Which state is Dhruv Jurel from?

Dhruv Jurel was born on January 21 2001, in Agra. He hails from the state of Uttar Pradesh in India.

Which Ranji Trophy team does Dhruv Jurel play for?

Dhruv Jurel made his debut for Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji trophy on 17 February 2022 against Vidarbha, and his T20 debut in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on January 10, 2021.

Who is Dhruv Jurel? Five facts about the Rajasthan Royals youngster

  1. Started playing cricket in school: Jurel's love story with the sport began in school when he saw some other children playing cricket and took a liking to it. Afterwards, he joined a summer camp to train and improve himself, which would start his journey upward across different divisions of Indian cricket.
     
  2. Family went through many hardships: It was by no means easy for Jurel and his family to support his career. The RR wicketkeeper comes from a humble background and his parents couldn't afford getting him a proper cricket kit. His mother had to sell her jewellery for her son to have the correct equipment to pursue his passion.
     
  3. India's vice-captain at the 2020 U-19 World Cup: Due to his impressive performances for Uttar Pradesh at various youth levels, Jurel was selected as the vice-captain of India's U-19 side for the 2020 World Cup. He helped his nation reach the final of the tournament and was ever so close to winning the entire thing.
     
  4. First-Class debut: Jurel made his first-class debut for Uttar Pradesh on 17 February 2022 against Vidarbha. He has since gone on to score 587 runs across 14 innings, including a blockbuster knock of 249 runs against Nagaland.
     
  5. Bought by RR for 20 lakhs: Jurel like most youngsters in their first IPL auction was bought for a relatively low sum of 20 lakhs by RR. However, with his impressive knock of 32 runs in 15 balls against PBKS, he could very well turn out to be a bargain for his team.

 

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Author(s)
Soham Mukherjee