There is no denying the fact that Virat Kohli is one of the greatest players of all times and he is also one of those who can easily recognise the caliber of a youngster.
Virat Kohli identified Sarfaraz Khan as a special talent long before the young batter started making headlines with his remarkable performances in first-class cricket. An old clip from an IPL match which is now going viral showcases a moment when Kohli acknowledged Sarfaraz’s brilliance after a memorable innings.
During an IPL 2015 match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals, 17 years old Sarfaraz Khan took on seasoned bowlers like Shane Watson, Tim Southee and James Faulkner at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. In a sparkling cameo, Sarfaraz smashed 44 runs, displaying a range of audacious shots, including an upper cut, a reverse flick and a lofted drive. His fearless batting earned the admiration of then-RCB captain Kohli, who was visibly impressed by the youngster’s talent.
Here is the video which was posted by the BCCI with the caption, “Familiar venue, Familiar faces, Familiar feels, Different years”
https://x.com/BCCI/status/1847522481461960745
Click to watch this video directly on X
Fast forward to Saturday, and Sarfaraz was once again showcasing his skills with Kohli watching from the Indian dressing room. The setting had changed but the venue remained the same. This time, Sarfaraz was playing for India in a Test match where he scored a brilliant maiden international century and took just 110 balls to reach the milestone.
Sarfaraz made his India debut earlier this year during the five-match Test series against England. In three appearances, the 26-yr cricketer amassed 200 runs, including three half-centuries, contributing to India’s 4-1 series win.
