Sarfaraz Khan silences fitness critics, grabs a screamer at slip against England Lions

India A batter Sarfaraz Khan showcased his exceptional fielding skills in the ongoing unofficial Test against the England Lions at the St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury. The middle-order batter grabbed a stunning ‘wrong-side’ catch that impressed many and helped silence doubts about his fitness.

India A and England Lions are playing an unofficial Test match. They posted a commanding first-innings score of 557, with a brilliant double hundred from Karun Nair. Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan also made valuable contributions to the total. In response, the England Lions showed resilience.

Watch: Sarfaraz Khan Grabs a Screamer at Slip Against England Lions

On Day 3, Sarfaraz Khan pulled off a stunning catch to dismiss Tom Haines, who was batting on 171 and looked well set for a double century. The breakthrough came on the fourth ball of the 100th over when Haines edged a fuller delivery from Shardul Thakur while attempting a drive through the off-side.

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Sarfaraz, stationed alone at first slip with no other fielders in the cordon, dived to his left and stuck out his left hand to complete a brilliant one-handed catch. The dismissal not only ended Haines’ superb innings but also gave Shardul his first wicket and handed India A a much-needed breakthrough.

Watch the video of the same posted by a user on X (formerly known as Twitter) below:

pic.twitter.com/VDpUlsOxZO

— Chandra Moulee Das (@Dasthewayyy) June 1, 2025

Earlier, Sarfaraz Khan Was Trolled for His Fitness

Sarfaraz Khan has undergone a significant transformation in recent months. He was previously known for his struggles with weight and agility, but the Mumbai batter demonstrated his commitment by following an intense regimen ahead of the England tour.

The 27-year-old cricketer shed 10 kilograms in less than two months, a change that has visibly improved his movement and reflexes on the field. Sarfaraz followed a strict diet consisting mainly of boiled vegetables and chicken, along with rigorous training sessions twice a day.

However, Sarfaraz was not named in India’s squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against England. He was part of India’s squad in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024–25 but did not get a single opportunity to play.

Sarfaraz Khan Just Misses Century, Scores 92 Runs

England Lions ended day three trailing India A by just 30 runs, the home team finishing at 527 for 7. Dan Mousley scored 113 runs, including ten fours and a six, before being dismissed by Karun Nair on the final ball of the day.

Tom Haines scored 171 runs with 19 boundaries before getting out. Zaman Akhter remained unbeaten on 38 runs at the stumps.

India A’s Karun Nair smashed a double century, supported well by Sarfaraz, who narrowly missed a century himself with 92 runs. Mukesh Kumar also delivered an impressive performance, taking three wickets on day three, helping India A stay competitive in the match.

Also read: Watch: Shreyas Iyer publicly abuses and scolds Shashank Singh, refuses to shake hands after Qualifier 2

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