In a big relief to the Indian camp in Australia, middle-order batter Safaraz Khan escaped serious injury after getting hit on his elbow during a training session in Perth on Thursday, November 14. Sarfaraz appeared in discomfort after getting hit while batting in the nets at the iconic WACA Stadium in the Western Australian city.
Sarfaraz Khan was in considerable pain when he walked off the nets midway through his session, as seen in a video shared by Fox Sports. However, the Mumbai batter was doing fine and did not need an MRI scan, PTI news agency reported.
Sarfaraz could be in line to play the first Test in Perth if captain Rohit Sharma, who is awaiting the birth of his second child, is unavailable for the series opener.
Sarfaraz, who made his Test debut against England earlier in 2024, has played six Tests and scored 371 runs, including a hundred and three fifties.
Sarfaraz hit his maiden Test century in the first of India’s three-Test series at home against New Zealand last month. However, in the two subsequent Tests, he failed with scores of 11, 9, 0 and 1. India lost the Test series in 0-3 in a shocking upset at home.
The uncertainty around Rohit Sharma’s participation in the first of the five-Test series in Perth has not been ideal in the lead-up to one of India’s biggest tests overseas. Rohit did not confirm whether he would be available or not for the series opener at the end of the three-Test series against New Zealand earlier this month. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, who addressed a press conference before India’s departure to Australia last week, also remained tight-lipped about Rohit’s availability.
However, it has emerged that Rohit Sharma might be heading to play the first Test in Perth if things go according to plan back home. The BCCI is ensuring all arrangements are in place for a thumbs up from the India captain in the eleventh hour.
