Sarfaraz Khan is making waves at the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Long pigeon-holed as a Test specialist, the 28-year-old Mumbai batsman is now knocking firmly on the selectors’ door for a look at white-ball cricket. On the final day of the year, Sarfaraz made headlines by smashing a breathtaking 157 off just 75 balls for Mumbai against Goa at the Jaipuria Vidyalaya Ground in Jaipur.
Sarfaraz smashed 14 sixes and nine boundaries to power Mumbai to a mammoth total of 444 for 8 in their 50 overs. He raced to his hundred in just 56 balls before switching gears and plundering his final 57 runs off just 21 deliveries in a brutal display of acceleration.
The right-hander spared no one in the Goa bowling attack. He took 11 runs from six balls off Arjun Tendulkar and launched a sustained attack on the spinners – off-spinner Lalit Yadav making 52 off 26 balls while left-arm spinner Darshan Misal was taken for 52 off just 20 deliveries.
Sarfaraz’s onslaught also took the spotlight off Yashasvi Jaiswal, who featured in his first Vijay Hazare Trophy match of the season. Jaiswal made 46 off 64 balls after a rough start and played second fiddle as Sarfaraz dominated.
Sarfaraz also shared a valuable partnership of 93 runs with his younger brother Musheer Khan who contributed a composed 60 off 66 balls. While Sarfaraz provided most of the acceleration, skipper Shardul Thakur added a late cameo, smashing 27 off just eight balls. Wicketkeeper Hardik Tamore made a brisk 53 off 28 deliveries while Tanush Kotian made 23 off 12 balls and Shams Mulani added 22 off 15.
Sarfaraz has always had the ability to score at a fast pace, yet he went unsold in two consecutive IPL auctions before finally getting This year’s contract with Chennai Super Kings for 75 million rupees. His remarkable run in the Ranji Trophy and subsequent debut for India in Test cricket tended to overshadow his limited-overs credentials.
This season, however, Sarfaraz has let his batting do the talking. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India’s premier domestic T20 competition, he scored 329 runs in seven matches, including a century, at a staggering strike rate of 203.08.
Sarfaraz began his Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign with a steady 55 against Uttarakhand in Jaipur on December 26, but exploded with ferocity against Goa, taking their bowlers to the cleaners. Consistency will now be key if he is to enter the selection conversation ahead of the 2027 World Cup, especially given the stiff competition for middle-order spots.
More importantly, the continued runs will ensure that Sarfaraz remains firmly in the selectors’ minds when debates arise. That relevance is key, especially as he has not featured in Test cricket since November 2024 despite a promising start to his international career.
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
December 31, 2025
