Those who know Mumbai cricket well know how tough Naushad is on his children Sarfaraz and Mushir (even in the Mumbai team), who have no life beyond cricket.
So is Dream India now on a call-up card? His eyes watered while answering this question after taking Mumbai to 374 against Madhya Pradesh in the final match of Ranji Trophy.
“In our lives, it’s all about the little dreams we have. Dreams we (him and father) saw together. Since returning to Mumbai, I have scored nearly 2000 runs in two seasons, thanks to my ‘Abbu’. ‘, “He said.
When there are no matches, the brothers train six to seven hours a day under the supervision of their father. He has disciplinary issues, he was not the favorite boy of the establishment and had to relocate to UP for one season for cooling off period before returning to Mumbai.
“You go, what happened to me? If Abbu had not lived, I would have perished.
“It simply came to our notice then. He never let go of my hand. My brother put a status on his cell phone and I saw Abbu very happy. It made my day, “he finally managed to manage a smile.
A fan of Sidhu Musawala
Asked if his thumping ceremony was an imitation of Punjabi singer Sidhu Musawala, who was recently beaten by a gang, he said it was an idea. It was for Sidhu Musewala. I love his songs and me and Hardik Tamor (Keeper) listen to his songs. I had a similar celebration (in his memory) in the previous match, but Hotstar didn’t show it then. I was determined to repeat the celebration by scoring another century, “said the Mumbaikar.
Planning and pats from selectors
Sarfaraz has amassed nearly 1,000 first-class runs this season with a Bradmanesk average of 81 (currently 937). “This is my best match so far in the Ranji Trophy because it is a final and it happened when the team was in a difficult position. We were losing wickets at regular intervals.
Sarfaraz, who scored 134 off 243 balls, said, “My goal was not to give up my wicket no matter what, even if I wanted to play 300 balls. The more balls I play, the bigger my game will be. “
The century in the Ranji Trophy is special because it reminds him of carrying a heavy kitbag in a Mumbai local, with his father Naushad and drinking for years.
“When I was young, I dreamed of making a century by wearing a Mumbai jersey. When that dream came true, I wanted to score a century in the final of the Ranji Trophy when the team was in a fragile position. “After a century, I was overwhelmed with emotion,” Sarfaraz said.
Sarfaraz said he would have to change his game plan once Shams Mulani was dismissed in the first over. “Once the sums are out, I thought it might crash into a corner because MP’s fast bowlers are moving a bit off the track. He was bowling a good cutter but then I had some partnerships that brought me closer. One hundred, “he said.
He did not elaborate on what national selector Sunil Joshi might have told him about his future senior team selection, but said he appreciated the MP’s strategy.
“I was happy to talk to Sunil Joshi. He understood that Chandu Sir (Chandrakant Pandit) had asked his bowlers to block my sweep shot and he said that it was good that I could rotate the strike even when my pet was shot block.
After 123 for 1 in reply to Mumbai’s 374, Sarfaraz appealed to his bowlers to be cautious as he felt the MP needed to be a little more disciplined on the third morning.
“We need to be a little more disciplined tomorrow but I can tell you the game is not over. And don’t forget, he wants to bat one last on this track. “In any case, we are confident that we will get the lead in the first innings, but if we lose the lead in the first innings, we will get it in the fourth innings,” Sarfaraz said.
