Sarfaraz Khan continued his sensational form in domestic cricket with a breathtaking innings for Mumbai in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.
The right-handed batter produced a stunning unbeaten 157 off just 75 balls against Goa in an Elite Group C match played at the Jaipuria Vidhyalaya Ground in Jaipur on Wednesday, December 31.
Walking in at No. 4 after the early dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz wasted no time in taking control of the innings.
From the moment he arrived at the crease, he displayed remarkable confidence and attacking intent, punishing the Goa bowlers with clean hitting and flawless timing.
His knock was filled with power and precision, featuring 9 fours and 14 towering sixes that kept the scoreboard ticking at a rapid pace.
Sarfaraz’s explosive batting helped Mumbai, led by Shardul Thakur, post a massive total of 444 for 8 in their 50 overs.
It was one of the most dominant batting performances of the tournament so far and left the Goa bowling attack struggling for answers throughout the innings.
The 28-year-old, who represented India in six Test matches earlier in 2024, once again underlined his class and hunger for runs.
His century came in just 56 balls, quicker than Rohit Sharma’s recent 62-ball hundred against Sikkim, highlighting Sarfaraz’s aggressive approach and ability to accelerate under pressure.
Support came from several Mumbai batters, with Sarfaraz’s younger brother Musheer Khan contributing a steady 60 off 66 balls.
Wicketkeeper-batter Hardik Tamore played a crucial cameo, smashing 53 runs from just 28 deliveries to add late momentum to the innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal also chipped in with a valuable 46 before being dismissed.
Sarfaraz eventually finished unbeaten on 157, before being caught off Darshan Misal, who emerged as Goa’s most successful bowler.
Misal picked up 3 wickets for 98 runs in his nine overs. Lalit Yadav claimed 2 for 93, while Vasuki Koushik bowled economically, taking 2 wickets for 60 runs in his full quota. However, the rest of the Goa attack found it difficult to stem the flow of runs.
This remarkable knock comes at a crucial time for Sarfaraz Khan, with India set to announce their ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand on January 5.
A performance of this magnitude in a prestigious tournament like the Vijay Hazare Trophy could significantly strengthen his case for selection.
With innings like these, Sarfaraz Khan continues to send a strong message to the selectors, proving that his red-hot form with the bat deserves attention at the international level.
