India may have enjoyed a strong batting day with centuries from Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja on Day 1 of the 3rd Test against England in Rajkot, but it was an unfortunate incident involving newcomer Sarfaraz Khan that left a lingering impact.
Khan, making his Test debut, impressed with a fluent fifty, setting the stage for a potentially big score. However, disaster struck in the 82nd over when a miscommunication with Jadeja led to his run-out.
Jadeja, batting on 99, initially called for a run but then sent Khan back, leaving him exposed to a direct hit at the non-striker’s end. The dismissal visibly dejected Khan and angered captain Rohit Sharma, who expressed his frustration in the dressing room.
Jadeja, despite finishing unbeaten on 110, took responsibility for the error, apologizing to Khan on Instagram. The young batsman, however, displayed maturity, stating that mistakes like these are part of the game.
Khan’s positive attitude bodes well for his future, but he will be hungry to make a bigger mark with the bat in India’s second innings. While the day belonged to Indian batters, the run-out controversy remains a talking point, highlighting the ever-present element of human error in cricket.
