- By Namrata Vijay
- Sat, 19 Oct 2024 08:19 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
IND vs NZ, 1st Test: Ex-India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar lauded Sarfaraz Khan and even compared him to legendary former Pakistani batter Javed Miandad. Sarfaraz was seen struggling during the first innings of the series opener against New Zealand as Matt Henry, who achieved the milestone of taking 100 wickets, got him out for a three-ball duck.
But he bounced back during the second innings. At stumps on the third day, he remained unbeaten on 70, in which he had hit seven fours and three sixes. He also stitched a gritty partnership of 136 runs with Virat Kohli, who too scored 70 runs but Glenn Phillips dismissed him before stumps.
Manjrekar reckoned that the way Sarfaraz played, reminded him of Miandad, who scored 8831 runs for Pakistan in the longest format after playing in 124 matches, which also includes 23 centuries and 43 half-centuries.
"He (Sarfaraz) reminds me of a Javed Miandad of the 1980s but this is a 2024 version of a Javed Miandad. Impressed with the way he played. We know he plays spin well but I liked the way he played fast bowlers," Manjrekar was quoted as saying on ESPN Cricinfo.
'Loved the way he was ducking to bouncers'
Manjrekar also heaped praises on Sarfaraz Khan for saving his wickets till the stumps.
"And towards the end of the day's play when he was looking to play defensively and wanting bad light when there was bright light. I loved how 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,” he concluded.
The Rohit Sharma-led side conceded a huge lead of 356 runs during the first innings as Sarfaraz and Kohli helped the team bounce back by reducing the deficit to 125. On the fourth day, the Men in Blue will aim to decrease the remaining deficit and then consider posting a target for the Kiwis.