Wed Oct 02 15:56:24 UTC 2024: ## Sarfaraz Khan Hits Century in Irani Cup, Joins Elite Company
**Lucknow, India:** Mumbai batsman Sarfaraz Khan continued his remarkable run of form in the first-class circuit, registering his second century in the ongoing Irani Cup clash against the Rest of India. The 25-year-old came in at number five and produced a brilliant knock on Day 2 at the Ekana Stadium, helping Mumbai recover from a shaky start.
With his century, Sarfaraz joined the likes of legendary Indian batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, each having two centuries in the prestigious tournament. Several other prominent figures like Shikhar Dhawan, Polly Umrigar, and Yashasvi Jaiswal also boast two centuries in the Irani Cup.
Sarfaraz, along with Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane, forged a crucial 131-run partnership for the fifth wicket to stabilize the innings. While Rahane fell agonisingly short of a century, scoring 97 runs, Sarfaraz reached his 15th first-class century. Interestingly, he now has more centuries (15) than half-centuries (14) in the domestic red-ball circuit.
Despite his impressive domestic form, Sarfaraz was recently released from the Team India squad for the second Test against Bangladesh. While he didn’t feature in the first Test, he was used as a substitute fielder in both matches. Earlier this year, he made his Test debut against England, making a strong start to his international career. However, with the return of KL Rahul, Sarfaraz found himself on the bench.
Despite the recent setback, Sarfaraz is expected to retain his place in the Test squad when India returns to the longest format during the series against New Zealand later this month. His consistent performance in the domestic circuit makes him a strong contender for a spot in the playing XI.
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