Harbhajan Singh Urges Sarfaraz Khan to Emulate Karun Nair's Comeback

Harbhajan Singh's Encouragement for Sarfaraz Khan

Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has advised Sarfaraz Khan to take inspiration from Karun Nair after Sarfaraz was left out of the national squad for the upcoming series against England starting June 20. Despite being dropped, Sarfaraz has been in excellent form, having scored 92 runs in the first unofficial Test against the England Lions. Harbhajan expressed his surprise at Sarfaraz's omission from the team, but he remains optimistic about the 27-year-old's future, encouraging him to follow Nair's example, who made a successful return to the national team after excelling in domestic cricket seven years ago.

Harbhajan Singh's Insights

Harbhajan stated, "It’s quite unfortunate... I was taken aback not to see his name in the squad. I believe he will bounce back strongly. He possesses the determination to make a comeback. My advice is to stay positive; your time will come, whether it’s today or tomorrow. Look at Karun Nair, who scored 300 runs against England but didn’t get many chances afterward. Now, he’s back with the team in England," he shared.

Comparing Sarfaraz Khan and Karun Nair

While both players have similar experiences in Test cricket, Sarfaraz Khan arguably deserves a spot over Karun Nair. Nair's remarkable unbeaten score of 303 significantly boosts his average to 62.33, but it remains his only century and a highlight of his otherwise short career. In contrast, Sarfaraz has shown greater consistency, accumulating 371 runs at an impressive strike rate of 74.94 across 11 innings, including one century and three fifties. His adaptability and performance in various conditions suggest he is more mature than his age indicates. Given his recent form and consistent scoring, Sarfaraz appears to be a more dependable option for the middle order compared to Nair, who is often seen as a one-time wonder.