Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan delivered a powerful reminder of his explosive batting ability, smashing a 15-ball half-century in a Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Super League Group B match against Rajasthan at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Tuesday—just under an hour before the IPL auction in Abu Dhabi.
The timing of the knock could hardly have been more striking, as Sarfaraz produced his blistering innings while franchises were preparing their final auction strategies. Known for his domestic consistency, the right-hander showcased his range with clean and aggressive strokeplay, underlining his T20 credentials on a big day.
Despite making a promising start to his Test career, Sarfaraz has remained on the fringes of national selection and was notably unsold at the previous full IPL auction, a development that raised eyebrows given his domestic form.
Earlier this month, Sarfaraz returned to T20 cricket in emphatic fashion, scoring an unbeaten 100 off 47 balls—his maiden T20 hundred—in Mumbai’s 98-run win over Assam in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The knock marked his first T20 appearance in over two years and included eight fours and seven sixes.
Sarfaraz is listed among the first set of capped batters at the ongoing IPL auction, carrying a base price of Rs 75 lakh, with his latest performances reinforcing his case for renewed interest from franchises.
