South Africa v India 2023/24

Watch: Sarfaraz Khan blitzes 63-ball hundred in India intra-squad match

by Wisden Staff December 22, 2023 - 8:37am 2 minute read

Watch: Sarfaraz Khan scored a 63-ball century in the three-day intra-squad warm-up match that the Indian team is playing in Pretoria.

A whole bunch of Indian cricketers are currently in South Africa as the senior team is in the middle of an all-format tour while the A team is also playing a two-match unofficial ‘Test’ series against South Africa A.

As India prepare for the two-Test series against South Africa, they currently playing a pre-planned three-day intra-squad warm-up game amongst themselves at the Tuks Oval in Pretoria.

While the match is being played behind closed doors with media entry not allowed as India intend to keep their cards close to their chest, Musheer Khan, the teenage brother of Sarfaraz Khan, posted a video on his social media showing the latter score a swashbuckling hundred off just 63 balls against the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Saurabh Kumar, and Vidwath Kaverappa.

Sarfaraz has been scoring heavily in first-class cricket but has not yet been able to break into the Indian Test side. One of the chief arguments against his selection has been his performances (or lack thereof) in ‘A’ tours. This knock, while not against an ‘A’ team of an opposing country, might help improve his standing in the eyes of the selectors and management.

According to reports, Shubman Gill also scored a hundred in the intra-squad game. Gill, who batted at No.3 in the West Indies earlier this year, is expected to continue in that position as India prepare to move on from Cheteshwar Pujara.

The first Test starts in Centurion on December 26.