On Thursday, in the third Test against England at Rajkot, 26-year-old Sarfaraz Khan fulfilled his long-awaited dream by making his Test debut, have a look at the meaning of his 97 jersey number
Anil Kumble, the legendary Indian spinner, presented him with his debut Test cap, numbered 311, in the presence of his father, Naushad Khan, who has been Sarfaraz’s coach and made significant sacrifices to support his three sons in pursuing their cricket dreams.
Why does Sarfaraz Khan wear the number 97 jersey in test cricket and what is its meaning explained
The emotional moment unfolded as Sarfaraz received his Test cap, with his father, Naushad, breaking into tears and kissing the cap. This poignant scene took place in the stadium, marking a special milestone for the Khan family.
For me Alhamdulilah it was a dream day. #SarfarazKhan #INDvsENGTest pic.twitter.com/HpseVnkPWH
— Sarfaraz Khan (@iSarfarazKhan97) February 15, 2024
Wearing jersey number 97, Sarfaraz paid tribute to his father, as “97” translates to “Nau Saat” in Hindi, which is nearly identical to his father’s name, Naushad.
About Sarfaraz Khan
Sarfaraz Naushad Khan, born on October 22, 1997, is an accomplished Indian cricketer on the international stage. He actively contributes to Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy and represents the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Sarfaraz Khan's jersey story is fascinating. His jersey number, 97, is connected from his father's name, Nausad, where "Nau" represents 9, and "Saat" represents 7. Additionally, he was born in 1997. pic.twitter.com/f15GDU0m8J
— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952_) February 15, 2024
Sarfaraz showcased his cricketing prowess early on, representing India in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in both 2014 and 2016. His personal profile includes:
Personal Details
Full Name: Sarfaraz Naushad Khan
Date of Birth: October 22, 1997 (26 years old)
Birthplace: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Nicknames: Sarfu, Panda, Macho
Height: 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Batting Style: Right-handed
Bowling Style: Legbreak
Net Worth: $1 Million (INR 8 crore)
His cricket journey began when he made his IPL debut for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2015 at the age of 17 years and 177 days, making him the youngest player at that time to participate in an IPL match.
Remarkably, in the subsequent season, he became the sole uncapped player retained by a franchise in the IPL. As of now, he stands as the fourth-youngest player in IPL history.
Notably, at the age of 15 in 2012, Sarfaraz earned mention in the prestigious Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, a recognition he shares with his younger brother Musheer. On August 6, 2023, Khan entered a new chapter in his life by marrying Romana Zahoor, a Kashmiri girl from the Shopian District.
Sarfaraz’s Test Debut
Sarfaraz’s Test debut had been anticipated for a considerable time due to his consistent performance in red-ball cricket over the past three seasons.
With an impressive average of 69.85 in 45 first-class matches, including 14 centuries and 11 fifties, he ranks third among batters with a minimum of 50 first-class innings, following only Don Bradman (95.1) and Vijay Merchant (71.6).
The opportunity for Sarfaraz to make his Test debut became apparent when KL Rahul was ruled out from the Rajkot Test, and Shreyas Iyer was dropped from the playing XI. India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, won the toss and chose to bat first.
Playing XI
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma ©, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes ©, Ben Foakes (w), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, James Anderson.
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