Watch: Virat Kohli bowed to Sarfaraz Khan after the latter played a breakthrough innings at the 2015 IPL, nine years before his sparkling Test debut.
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Sarfaraz has been under the radar of selectors since the age of 12, when he smashed 439 to set a new record in the Harris Shield Inter-School Cricket tournament. By 14, he was playing for the Mumbai Under-19s in the Cooch Behar Trophy. By 15, he was stepping out for India Under-19s.
The IPL call-up came at 17, when the Royal Challengers Bangalore signed him up. He made 11 on debut and was not required to bat in his next two matches, but his chance came in his fourth game, against Rajasthan Royals at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Sarfaraz walked out to join Dinesh Karthik with Bangalore on 124-4 after 13.5 overs. He soon uppercut James Faulkner for four. When Faulkner responded by taking the pace off and bowling outside off, Sarfaraz played a reverse flick with the back of his bat.
He hit Faulkner for another four, then hit consecutive boundaries off Shane Watson, and lofted Pravin Tambe for two fours and a six. He was on 44 when he faced the last ball of the innings, from Tim Southee, but could manage a solitary run as Bangalore finished with 200-7.
As Sarfaraz left the ground, his captain Kohli bowed to him in appreciation. Rain prevented any play for the rest of the match.
Watch Virat Kohli bow to Sarfaraz Khan after the latter’s 45 in the IPL:
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