Sarfaraz Khan smashed an unbeaten 59 off just 27 deliveries. (Source: PTI) Sarfaraz Khan smashed an unbeaten 59 off just 27 deliveries. (Source: PTI)

Only 19 minutes post lunch, the India Under 19 team were celebrating. Bangladesh U-19 had presented them with a very friendly victory target of 117 in the tri-series final here at JU’s Salt Lake Campus ground on Sunday. And Sarfaraz Khan chose to reach there in a blaze of glory.

Sarfaraz was India’s second highest run-getter at the 2014 U-19 World Cup in the UAE with a tally of 211 in six matches at 70.33. He was only 16 then. Two seasons down the line, and a few controversies and a switch from Mumbai to Uttar Pradesh later, he has reached a stage in his career that demands greater discipline. Sarfaraz is still very young, but with his talent he should be more consistent at all levels.

That he could be a game-changer was evident in his 21-ball 45 not out against Rajasthan Royals in the last IPL. It was an innings that had earned him Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli’s admiration.

Even Kevin Pietersen had tweeted, describing the teenager as a “real deal”. Compared to that, the Bangladesh colts were pushovers. Still, Sarfaraz’s stroke-play was breathtaking.

He came to the crease when India had lost Washington Sundar, Rishabh Pant and Amandeep Khare inside 11 deliveries. At 42/3, there was a hint of pressure. Also, Sarfaraz had scored 2, 0 and 12 in the lead-up to the final. But the fearless young lad tore the Bangladesh bowling and his own form book apart.

Saleh Gazi had started the proceedings after lunch. Sarfaraz warmed up with a paddle sweep to the fine leg fence. Up next was a six over the straight boundary followed by a four over mid-on.

When the left-arm spinner came for his next over, Sarfaraz was even more severe, hitting him for four, six, four, four and a couple to complete a 20-run over.

He reached his half-century in 23 balls – fastest fifty of the tournament – and eventually remained unbeaten on 59 off 27 (9X4, 3X6) as India romp home in 13.3 overs.

“In the last three matches, I couldn’t quite perform,” he would later say. “So to get out of pressure I chose to go after the bowling in this game. As they say attack is the best form of defence, I did that.”

He was given the freedom to play his natural game by coach Rahul Dravid.

“He (Dravid) never told me anything when I was having a sort of rough patch. He’s always very calm. He doesn’t hold a (team) meeting right after the match. He does it after a day, which helps us re-gather our thoughts,” Sarfaraz said.

After quite a while, India U-19 played an international tournament and it allowed the team management to try a few combinations. Batting-wise, Pant, Sundar, Sarfaraz and captain Ricky Bhui impressed.

Virat Singh and Khare, too, looked good prospects. As far as bowling is concern, Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed can form a potent new-ball pair.

Left-arm spinner Mayank Dagar, who took 3/32 in the final and ran through the Bangladesh middle-order, used his brain. But one thing is pretty clear: Pant and Sarfaraz can be India’s X-factor(s) in the World Cup.

Dravid is impressed

Rahul Dravid began his stint as India-19 coach with success and attributed it to his wards. “I’m impressed with their attitude and willingness to learn. We’ve almost identified the core (for the World Cup),” he said on Sunday.

Brief scores: Bangladesh Under-19 116 all out in 36.5 overs (Md Najmul Hossain 45; M Dagar 3/32, M Lomror 2/11) lost to India Under-19 117/3 in 13.3 overs (S Khan 59*) by 7 wickets.

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