Sarfaraz Khan ended a long wait in his inspiring cricket journey on Saturday as the Mumbai player hit his first Test ton for the Indian cricket team at a crucial juncture in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. Sarfaraz played a counter-attack, sometimes with brazen disregard for the opposition bowlers, and achieved the score in just 110 balls. Thanks to his tone and Rishabh Pant's half-century, India are on course to give New Zealand a good enough target in the fourth innings.

Former Indian cricket team star Sanjay Manjrekar had something interesting to say about Sarfaraz Khan's innings. “I love how Sarfaraz Khan gives the finger to the 'Mumbai batting school'. After all, it's all about runs and boy does he know how to get those! #INDvNZ,” Manjrekar wrote on X. Interestingly, just like Sachin Tendulkar, Manjrekar played cricket for Mumbai at the national level.

I love how Sarfaraz Khan gives the finger to the 'Mumbai batting school'.
After all, it's all about runs and boy does he know how to get those! #INDvNZ

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) October 19, 2024

Earlier, Manjrekar had predicted a strong comeback for India despite scoring 46 in the first innings.

“If I were New Zealand I would be a little worried about India's strong response. This Indian team has great talent to come back. Recently, South Africa needed 30 from 30 balls in the WT20 final. Do you remember the comeback? #INDvNZ,” Majrekar wrote on X on Friday.

If I were New Zealand I would be a little worried about India's strong response. This Indian team has great talent to come back. Recently SA needed 30 from 30 balls in the WT20 final. Do you remember the comeback? #INDvNZ

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) October 18, 2024

Meanwhile, top batter Rachin Ravindra was relieved after New Zealand managed to bag the big wicket of Virat Kohli on the last ball of the third day and hoped the bowlers would continue to put pressure on India on Saturday.

Kohli (70) and Sarfaraz Khan (70 not out) added 136 runs for the third wicket to take India to 231 for three stumps in the opening Test.

But the former Indian captain had to admit defeat to Glenn Phillips and beat Tom Blundell to give the visitors some respite.

“It's quite difficult to look into the future with a crystal ball. It's a top-class batting line-up on one wicket that doesn't do too much, so it's important that we maintain our lines and lengths and do that for longer periods. But I think “Kohli's wicket at the end was very important,” Ravindra told reporters during the post-day press conference.

“Obviously he’s a guy who has scored over 9,000 Test runs, which is pretty staggering, but for us it was a huge achievement. We know things happen quickly in this part of the world so hopefully we can stick with it.” “I'll try and get a few wickets in the morning,” he added.

With PTI inputs