Start of a Long Career! Anil Kumble and Dinesh Karthik's Words to Sarfaraz Khan and Druv Jurel While Presenting Debut Cap

Youngsters Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel were handed their India debut Test caps in the third Test of the five-match series against England at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, now known as Niranjan Shah Stadium, in Rajkot on Thursday.

Sarfaraz and Jurel, the two debutants who recently made runs for India ‘A’ in the series against England Lions in Ahmedabad, come into the playing eleven in place of Shreyas Iyer and KS Bharat respectively.

While legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble gave Sarfaraz his Test cap, with his father-cum-coach Naushad Khan being teary-eyed in the background, veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik handed Jurel his Test cap.

“Sarfu, really proud of you, the way you have come through. I am sure your dad and your family will be extremely proud of what you have been able to achieve. I know you have done all the hard work,” Kumble, also the former national coach, said in the team huddle.

“There were some disappointments but despite that, all the runs you have scored through the domestic season well done to you. I am sure you will have lots of wonderful memories today. (This is the) start of a long career, only 310 people have played before you, and this is for you. Good luck,” he added.

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Dinesh Karthik shared interesting anecdotes and statistics while making his speech during the cap presentation to Jurel.

“Coming from Agra, moving to Noida at a very young age, your mother being with you all the tough things that must have happened in the journey, there must have been so many people through that journey who would have really helped you. I am sure all of them would be watching today,” he said.

“You must have played a lot of matches in different colours, mainly blue, but there is something divine and pure about wearing the whites and representing India in Test cricket. It is the toughest format of the game, it is relentless but there is tremendous satisfaction that comes when you do well in this format,” Karthik added.

Karthik said doing well in Test cricket is paramount for every cricketer and wished Jurel to have success like his teammate Rinku Singh.

“Your dad is watching today who is your biggest hero and he will be really proud and happy like everybody else are,” he said.

“Everybody’s journey is different and what you have done in this short duration of time and achieved let us take an example, Rinku Singh, who has been your roommate for sometime now and (also) your housemate,” Karthik revealed.

“He has done some special things in the last six months and may you do special things as well,” the former India stumper added.

Karthik pulled up some numbers to highlight how rare it is to get to play Test cricket for India.

“Not many have played this format I tell you that in the last 10 years as a commentator I took up some stats: 65 people have played T20Is, 56 have played ODIs but just 30 have managed to play Test cricket,” he said.

“This is the toughest form and very hard to get in. What you have achieved is really special and may you stay here long and do really well,” Karthik added.

The five-match Test series is currently tied at 1-1. India won the second Test by 104 runs to level the series after England took the opener by 28 runs.

(With inputs from Agencies)