Young batsman Sarfaraz Khan was seen jumping and shouting at Rishabh Pant as the wicketkeeper avoided a mass run-out on Day 4 of the first Test against New Zealand at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. A mix-up between the wickets almost saw Pant fall victim to a breakthrough, but Sarfaraz Khan’s quick thinking and a bit of luck saw India avoid a costly wicket loss.
The dramatic moment came in the 65th over, with India 270/3 and trailing New Zealand by 86 runs. Sarfaraz Khan, anchoring India’s innings with a shot at good pace, reduced Matt Henry’s delivery late to deep behind. What initially appeared to be a routine single quickly turned into a scene of confusion.
Pant, batting at 11*, hesitated after taking off for the first run, unsure if a second was on the cards. Meanwhile, Sarfaraz, racing towards the non-striker’s end, knew immediately that there was no chance of an extra run. Jumping and waving his arms frantically, Sarfaraz shouted at Pant to stay put.
India vs New Zealand: Day 4 Live Updates | Full scorecard
Despite Sarfaraz’s desperate gestures, Pant continued to watch the ball and found himself caught in the middle of the pitch. New Zealand’s goalkeeper, Tom Blundell, collected the ball quickly and had something of a sure shot opportunity. However, in an unexpected twist, Blundell misjudged the bounce of the throw. As he lunged forward to scoop the ball cleanly for an underarm hit into the stumps, he fumbled, sending the ball wide and allowing Pant to climb back to safety.
Indian supporters in the stands heaved a collective sigh of relief as a visibly shaken Pant survived the run out of the pitch. Sarfaraz’s frantic effort, which earned him the nickname ‘The Leaping Sarfaraz’ on social media, proved crucial in preventing a potentially game-changing moment.
Adding to the drama of the day, Sarfaraz Khan continued his stellar innings, bringing up his maiden Test century shortly after the incident. His 100 came from 110 balls marked by 13 boundaries and three towering sixes. This knock came after a disappointing duck in the first innings, making him the 22nd Indian player to record a duck and a century in the same Test.
