Sarfaraz Khan, who has been overlooked for the upcoming four-match Test series against Australia, recalled how he changed people's perceptions of him as a white-ball player rather than a red-ball player.
Sarfaraz also recalled how he waited for his chance and then responded with a triple century when he was given the opportunity to bat for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy.
Though the Mumbai batter did not say so, his recollection of the incident suggests that he intends to keep working hard and waiting for an opportunity to demonstrate his abilities. Sarfaraz Ahmed was thought to be a lock for a middle-order spot in the Test squad against Australia, but the selectors went with red-ball specialist Suryakumar Yadav.
Sarfaraz explained in a conversation on JioCinema's new daily show '#AAKASHVANI,' hosted by Aakash Chopra, how everyone used to tell him that he is only a white-ball player and not fit for red-ball.
"When I returned from the World Cup and played IPL for 1-2 years, some people said that Sarfaraz Khan is a white ball player who will not be able to play against the red ball and that he is the only player who can bat for the last four overs with the white ball. But I knew I could do it, and I've been working hard to get there.
"I was waiting for an opportunity, where I could get 4-5 matches to play continuously in the Ranji Trophy, so I'll show them who I am. When that day came, I made a comeback for Mumbai, and my first century for Mumbai ended up going straight to the triple century. After that, I realised that things aren't as difficult as people make them out to be. I also had a dream from the childhood of raising the bat and helmet in my hand with Mumbai's logo on my chest, so the taste for that thing is never going away and I will never let it go."
Sarfaraz Khan also mentioned AB de Villiers' compliments.
"It would be preferable if we avoided discussing him. I've only seen him practise a few times. But I asked him once, 'why don't you practise much'? So he told them, "When I was your age, I used to practise a lot, and I wasn't as talented as you are now, so just keep playing." "Sarfaraz Khan stated.