IPL 2016: When Sarfaraz Khan did a 'Guran' to Sunrisers Hyderabad

In an era of flat tummies, six-pack abs, diving saves and relay catches, you don't relate to cricketers with a slight paunch. But then there are players who defy that as a myth by producing performances like Sarfaraz Khan's in the Indian Premier League (IPL) game on Tuesday.

"He is an incredible young man." That was Shane Watson's response to Khan's 10-ball 35* against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Tuesday. But what stood out was the way he not just innovated but also executed those innovations to perfection.

He read Bhunveshwar Kumar's mind to precision. The swing bowlers' attempt to york the Royal Challengers Bangalore youngster was hit for four fours and a six in succession - taking 28 runs in the 19th over.

When that 10-ball extravaganza started, the crowd had barely caught its breath back following the pyrotechnics from RCB skipper Virat Kohli (75 off 51) and AB de Villiers (82 off 42).

The two RCB 'batmen' hit 14 fours and 9 sixes between them, one of which from De Villiers even kissed the roof of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

If that was risk-free hitting in front of the stumps, Khan chose to do the same behind the sticks.
Over the wicketkeeper or the short third-man or fine-leg, Khan was ready to hit 'back' everything thrown at him, especially by Kumar, who couldn't repeat the yorker that produced Kohli's wicket for Hyderabad.

"The control over the shots he has...never seen before for a young talent like him," Watson said after RCB's 45-run win.

After scoring a mammoth 227, RCB restricted Hyderabad to 182 for 6.

At times, Safaraz even stood facing the bowler as he ran in to bowl - reminding of 'Guran' the fortune-teller in famous Bollywood movie Lagaan, played by the Late Rajesh Vivek.

But while 'Guran' surprised the East India Company just for a bit, Sarfaraz's 10-ball unbeaten stay in the middle read 1,4,4,6,4,4,6,2,0,4.

IPL 2016, RCB vs SRH: Sarfaraz Khan’s inning was crucial for them to romp home, says David Warner

 

 Sunrisers Hyderabad captain David Warner acknowledged the partnership of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and then quickfire runs by Sarfaraz Khan took the game away from them. (Source: PTI)

Sunrisers Hyderabad captain David Warner feels the late flurry by young Sarfaraz Khan in death overs proved crucial as Royal Challenger Bangalore notched up a 45-run win in their IPL match.

Warner also praised Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers for their 157-run stand. “They (Kohli and AB) played fantastic and the innings at the end (by Sarfaraz) was crucial one for them to romp home,” he told reporters at the post-match press conference at Chinnaswamy stadium.

Warner praised Sarfaraz for taking the game away from the visitors with his array of strokes, and also blamed himself for not speaking to the bowler to make amends when the RCB lad smashed 28 runs in the 19th over. “We know how he (Sarfaraz) plays. He got four full-tosses and that works in his favour. I am not putting blame on anyone, may be we could have changed a pace a little bit, not bowl same balls, but it was my fault as well, I should have been speaking to the bowler,” he said.

Warner said because of Ashish Nehra’s absence early on, he wanted to use Mustafizur Rahman in death overs, but Sarafraz sabotaged the plan. “I couldn’t do that because a bowler (Nehra) went down, and that really hurts and makes you think on your feets. I tried to work out what I am going to do in last six overs, but we got a wicket which helped us a little bit, but Sarfaraz came in and played a fantastic knock,” he said.

“The only disappointing thing for me was a bowler went down and then in last four overs, they got 63 runs and one of those overs went for 28 runs. We didn’t execute our plans as we wanted to, but obviously we have to try and take positives out of it,” he added.

On chasing down a 228-run target, Warner said at least one among the top four batsman needed to get a century, but they could not materialise because of losing wickets in clutch after his departure. “I put my hand up – and it was required at least one of us among top four batters gets a hundred, but none of us were able to do that, and lost wickets in a clutch. We had a great start, but after my dismissal in 9th over, the run-rate increased and it became hard for incumbent batsmen to cope with the pressure,” he said.

On sending Eoin Morgan at Number Six, Warner said the team needed someone like him to finish off the game, but that could not happen as the batters failed to draft a good partnership. “I wanted Morg for the last ten overs. Morg is a good finisher and we needed this today. If we had two batsmen going great guns, we could have had a close finish,” he said.

Asked what was the other reason for RCB winning the game, Warner said apart from their batters, their fielding did wonders for them. “When two world class players (Kohli and AB) are going great guns, it is a very very tough ask to stop them. The boundaries here are very short which becomes very difficult for bowlers, but I am not taking any credit away from Bangalore, they played very well, and importantly fielded very well in first six overs. I feel the best fielding side is going to win the competition,” he said.

On English player James Taylor’s forced retirement due to a heart problem, Warner wished his speedy recovery and hoped he keeps himself involved in the game that he loves. “I saw the tweet today it is a very sad news. I spoke to Morgs before. It was all-of-a-sudden thing. We know how determined he was to play the game. We know how well he played for England. My thoughts are with him and with rest of his team. I wish him speedy recovery and hope somehow he keeps himself involved in the game that he loves,” he said.