50 Facts About Sarfaraz Khan

Early Life and Background

Sarfaraz Khan's journey in cricket began at a young age, influenced by his family's deep-rooted connection to the sport. Let's explore the early years and background of this talented cricketer.

1. Full Name and Nickname: Sarfaraz Naushad Khan is his full name, and he is affectionately known as "Panda" among his fans and teammates.
2. Place of Birth: Born and raised in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
3. Height and Eye Color: Standing at 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 meters) tall, Sarfaraz has black eyes.
4. Jersey Number: His jersey number is 87 in domestic cricket and 97 in international matches.
5. Family Background: His father, Naushad Khan, was a well-known cricketer in Mumbai and trained him. His mother is Tabassum Khan, and he has two brothers, Musheer Khan and Moin Khan.

Early Cricketing Career

Sarfaraz's early cricketing career was marked by impressive performances and some controversies. Here are some key moments from his initial years in cricket.

6. Early Cricketing Career: Sarfaraz began his cricketing journey at a very young age. He broke the record for the highest score in the Harris Shield inter-school tournament by scoring 439 runs in 2009, a feat that was previously held by Sachin Tendulkar.
7. Controversy Over Age: His early success was marred by a controversy when he was accused of fudging his age. An advanced test later revealed that he was indeed 12 years old at the time, and the Mumbai Cricket Association accepted the results.
8. Domestic Debut: Sarfaraz made his List-A debut in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2014 against Saurashtra. His unbeaten 17 off 15 balls led his team to victory in a close game.
9. First-Class Debut: He made his First-class debut in the Ranji Trophy against Bengal in 2014 but failed to impress, scoring just 1 run.
10. Move to Uttar Pradesh: After his father’s insistence, Sarfaraz moved to the Uttar Pradesh Cricket team for the Ranji Trophy. However, this move did not yield the desired results as he featured in just eight Ranji games over three seasons.

Return to Mumbai and Breakthrough

After a challenging stint with Uttar Pradesh, Sarfaraz returned to Mumbai, where he achieved significant milestones.

11. Return to Mumbai: By September 2019, Sarfaraz had played only 11 first-class matches, scoring 535 runs with a highest score of 155. He also played 12 List-A matches, scoring 257 runs at a strike rate of 96.25. He returned to Mumbai at the beginning of the last season and served the mandatory one-year cooling-off period.
12. First Century and Triple Century: Sarfaraz couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity than a face-off against UP to notch up his first century, which he later converted into a maiden triple-century.

Under-19 Career

Sarfaraz's performances in the Under-19 World Cups were remarkable and set the stage for his future career.

13. Under-19 Career: Sarfaraz’s impressive domestic performances earned him a spot in the India Under-19 team. He played in the quadrangular U-19 series involving South Africa, Australia, Zimbabwe, and India, where he scored a match-winning 66-ball 101 while chasing against South Africa.
14. Under-19 World Cup 2014: He was part of the India squad for the Under-19 World Cup in UAE in 2014. He scored 211 runs in six games at an average of 70.33 and ended up with a strike rate of 105.5.
15. Under-19 World Cup 2016: In the 2016 edition of the Under-19 World Cup, Sarfaraz finished as the second-highest run scorer. He scored 355 runs from six innings, with five scores of over 50, at an average of 71.
16. Most Fifties in U-19 World Cups: At the Under-19 level, Sarfaraz holds the record for the most number of fifties in World Cups (7 fifties across two World Cups).

IPL Journey

Sarfaraz's IPL career has been a rollercoaster, filled with memorable performances and significant moments.

17. IPL Debut: The hard-hitting Sarfaraz Khan became the youngest player to be picked up by a franchise in the 2015 IPL Auction by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). He spent four seasons under the tutelage of Virat Kohli, making a mark with his unique batting style.
18. IPL Career Highlights: Sarfaraz shot to fame with his unbeaten knock of 45 off 21 balls against Rajasthan Royals. While walking back to the dressing room after playing that innings, RCB skipper Virat Kohli bowed in front of the 17-year-old, an unforgettable moment.
19. IPL Retention: In July 2015, Sarfaraz left Mumbai and joined Uttar Pradesh for the 2015-16 domestic season. However, he was one of Bangalore’s three retentions going into the auction for the 2018 Indian T20 League.
20. Transfer to Punjab Kings: In December 2018, he was bought by Punjab Kings in the player auction for the 2019 Indian T20 League and continues to remain with them.

Playing Style and Skills

Sarfaraz is known for his aggressive batting and versatile skills on the field. Let's delve into his playing style and abilities.

21. Playing Role: Sarfaraz is a right-handed middle-order batsman and a leg-break bowler.
22. Batting Style: His batting style is characterized by his aggressive approach and ability to score quickly, often finishing off innings with ease.
23. Bowling Style: Sarfaraz is also a skilled leg-break bowler, known for his accuracy and ability to pick up wickets.

International Career

Sarfaraz's international career, though brief, has shown promise and potential.

24. International Debut: Sarfaraz made his Test debut on February 15, 2024, against England at Rajkot.
25. Test Career Stats: In Tests, Sarfaraz has played three matches, scoring 200 runs at an average of 50.00 with a highest score of 68*. He has also taken three catches in the field.

Domestic and T20 Career Stats

Sarfaraz has impressive statistics in domestic and T20 cricket, showcasing his consistency and talent.

26. First-Class Career Stats: In First-class cricket, Sarfaraz has played 50 matches, scoring 4183 runs at an average of 66.39 with a highest score of 301*. He has also taken 53 catches and bowled 17 overs, conceding 295 runs with five wickets.
27. List-A Career Stats: In List-A cricket, Sarfaraz has played 37 matches, scoring 629 runs at an average of 34.94 with a highest score of 117*. He has also taken one wicket and bowled 54 overs, conceding 56 runs.
28. T20 Career Stats: In T20 cricket, Sarfaraz has played 96 matches, scoring 1188 runs at an average of 22.41 with a highest score of 67*. He has also bowled eight overs, conceding nine runs without taking any wickets.
29. IPL Career Stats: In the IPL, Sarfaraz has played 50 matches for three different teams (RCB and Punjab Kings), scoring 585 runs at an average of 22.50 with a highest score of 67*. He has also bowled two overs, conceding six runs without taking any wickets.

Records and Achievements

Sarfaraz has set several records and achieved significant milestones in his career.

30. Highest Score in Harris Shield: Made 439 runs in a Harris Shield match and broke the record of Sachin Tendulkar for the highest score in Mumbai’s Inter-school tournament.
31. Youngest IPL Player: Became the youngest player to play in the IPL at the age of 17.
32. Most Fifties in U-19 World Cups: Holds the record for the most number of fifties in U-19 World Cups with seven fifties across two World Cups.

Personal Life and Interests

Beyond cricket, Sarfaraz has a life filled with interests and personal pursuits.

33. Favorite Things: Sarfaraz enjoys listening to music in his free time.
34. Social Media Presence: He is active on Instagram (@sarfarazkhan97) and Twitter (@sarfankhan97).
35. Salary: While specific details about his salary are not publicly disclosed, it is known that he earns significantly from his cricketing career and endorsements.
36. Personal Life: Sarfaraz is currently unmarried and focuses on his cricketing career.

Training and Philosophy

Sarfaraz's training regime and cricketing philosophy have played a crucial role in his success.

37. Training and Coaching: He trains under the tutelage of his father and coach, Naushad Khan, who was also a well-known cricketer in Mumbai and discovered talents such as Iqbal Abdullah and Kamran Khan.
38. Cricketing Philosophy: Sarfaraz’s cricketing philosophy is centered around hard work and dedication. He believes in continuous improvement and learning from his mistakes.

Team Dynamics and Leadership

Sarfaraz has played for various teams and shown leadership qualities on and off the field.

39. Team Dynamics: He has played for several teams including Mumbai, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab Kings, and India A, among others. His experience playing for different teams has helped him understand the dynamics of various teams and adapt to different environments.
40. Leadership Skills: While he has not held any captaincy roles yet, Sarfaraz has shown leadership skills by guiding his team to victories in crucial matches.

Controversies and Challenges

Despite his success, Sarfaraz has faced controversies and challenges throughout his career.

41. Controversies: Despite his success, Sarfaraz has faced controversies related to his age and performance in early years of his career. However, he has managed to overcome these challenges and prove himself as a reliable player.

Fan Following and Media Presence

Sarfaraz's aggressive batting style and impressive performances have earned him a significant fan following and media attention.

42. Fan Following: Sarfaraz has a significant fan following due to his aggressive batting style and impressive performances on the field. Fans affectionately call him "Panda."
43. Media Presence: He has been featured in various media outlets including ESPNcricinfo, Sportskeeda, and Hindustan Times, where his career details, ICC rankings, and personal info are highlighted.

Recent Matches and Performances

Sarfaraz has been part of several recent matches and shown consistency in his performances.

44. Recent Matches: Sarfaraz has been part of several recent matches including India B vs India C in a First-class match and India vs England in a Test match.
45. Recent Performances: In recent performances, he has shown consistency in scoring runs and contributing to his team's success. His ability to finish off innings has been particularly notable.

Contributions and Milestones

Sarfaraz's contributions to his teams and career milestones highlight his importance as a player.

46. Team Contributions: Sarfaraz’s contributions to his teams have been significant. He has often been the go-to player in crunch situations, helping his team win matches.
47. Career Milestones: Achieving a triple-century in domestic cricket was a significant milestone for Sarfaraz. This achievement showcases his ability to perform under pressure and score big runs.

Future Prospects and Aspirations

Sarfaraz's future in cricket looks promising, with aspirations to play for India at the highest level.

48. International Aspirations: Sarfaraz’s ultimate goal is to play for India in international cricket. His performances in domestic and T20 leagues have put him in contention for national team selection.
49. Role Models: Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar are among his role models. He admires their dedication, hard work, and ability to perform consistently at the highest level.
50. Future Prospects: With his current form and experience, Sarfaraz looks set to have a bright future in cricket. His ability to adapt to different formats and conditions makes him a valuable asset for any team.

Sarfaraz Khan: A Rising Star in Cricket

Sarfaraz Khan's journey in cricket is nothing short of inspiring. From breaking records in the Harris Shield to making a mark in the IPL, he's shown immense talent and determination. His aggressive batting style, combined with his ability to perform under pressure, makes him a valuable asset to any team. Despite facing controversies and challenges, Sarfaraz has proven his mettle time and again. His impressive stats in domestic and international cricket highlight his potential for a bright future. With role models like Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar, Sarfaraz continues to strive for excellence. As he aims for a spot in the Indian national team, fans eagerly await his next big performance. Sarfaraz Khan's story is a testament to hard work, dedication, and the relentless pursuit of dreams. Keep an eye on this young cricketer; he's just getting started.