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Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra, offered Sarfaraz Khan’s father Naushad a Thar SUV for being an “inspiring father”. Naushad has played a monumental role in Sarfaraz’s cricket career over the last 15 years and today, as the 26-year-old realized his dream of winning an India Test cap, the kind gesture for the 52-year-old comes like an icing on the cake.
“Hard work. Courage. Patience. What better qualities than what a father can inspire in a child? As an inspiring father, it would be a privilege and honor for me if Naushad Khan accepted the gift of a Thar,” shared the President. in X.
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Sarfaraz’s moment under his son when he received his Test cap from Anil Kumble was not his alone. It was a great victory for his wife, his brother, his family and, most importantly, his father, who cried uncontrollably watching his son become an Indian cricketer. The years of hard work, effort, toiling in the Ranji Trophy… season after season and the agonizing wait had finally paid off. The father-son duo had dreamed of this moment for years, and Sarfaraz only made it sweeter with a debut half-century.
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Naushad, a Western Railways employee, comes from a not-so-well-off background. From selling sweets and cucumbers on moving trains to making ends meet by selling sweatpants, Naushad didn’t have it easy but she made sure his daughter made a name for herself. From a young age, Sarfaraz had the support of his father, who supported his son through thick and thin and every step of the way. Every time he accumulated runs but was not rewarded, Naushad was the one who did not allow Sarfaraz’s spirit to weaken.
“Before, when I was working hard, I always wondered why my dream is not coming true. But now that he has his cap, my way of thinking has changed. To all the kids who are working hard, I just have “The Darkness never lasts forever. The sun will rise when necessary. Our job is to work hard, be patient and never give up,” Sarfaraz had said at his son’s debut.
what a debut
Sarfaraz retired at the fall of India’s fourth wicket with a score of 237 after Rohit Sharma was dismissed having made 204 runs with Ravindra Jadeja. Showing nerves of steel, Sarfaraz started batting at third and shifted to fifth in no time. He took 48 balls to reach his half-century, the second-fastest fifty on debut by an Indian, sharing the honor with Hardik Pandya. Sarfaraz hit nine fours and a six and added 77 runs with Jadeja before being unceremoniously removed. Sarfaraz had to wait his turn (he was expected to bat at number 5) but had to stay back as Jadeja got a promotion ahead. In the end, he showed why sending him early wouldn’t have been the worst idea.