Sarfaraz Khan looking forward to donning CSK’s yellow in IPL

Sarfaraz Khan’s appetite for runs may be well-documented, but as he looks ahead to a return in the Indian Premier League, this time around in Chennai Super Kings’s yellows, the Mumbai batter insists the focus is firmly on opportunity rather than expectation.

Fresh from a commanding double century against Hyderabad that marked a return to big scores after a stop-start domestic season, Sarfaraz views his CSK stint as a crucial platform to push his case for India’s limited-overs squads. Having gone unsold for two seasons before being picked up by CSK, Sarfaraz believes the IPL remains an indispensable shop window for a white-ball aspirant.

“The IPL is very important,” Sarfaraz said on Wednesday, ahead of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy tie against Delhi, at the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy ground. “You get a lot of limelight and almost all international players are there. If you perform, it’s seen. White-ball cricket has gone a long way, and IPL gives you that chance.”

Sarfaraz admitted that not getting opportunities early in tournaments can be frustrating, but he has learnt to respond with patience rather than panic. “Hard work never goes to waste,” he said.

“God gives you things at the right time and the right place. When I didn’t get chances earlier, I kept fighting for myself.”

The Mumbai batter also spoke about how injury setbacks and a prolonged stint at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in the off-season tested him mentally. “At NCA, it’s very tough. You are alone, you get frustrated,” he said. “I wasn’t worried about runs then. I focused on fitness and on fixing the things people say I lack.”

Groundedness, Sarfaraz says, comes from staying rooted in the present. “I try to stay in the now. I don’t think about the future or the past,” he said. “I go home, I practice, I bat, and I keep improving.”

At CSK, Sarfaraz knows the expectations will be different, but the plan remains simple. “I never thought I would play for CSK or with someone like M.S. Dhoni,” he said. “I consider myself lucky. I am just focusing on free batting, power-hitting and enjoying T20 cricket.”

For Sarfaraz, the message is clear: whether in red ball or white, the route forward lies in runs, patience and perspective.

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