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Mumbai middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan made history on Wednesday, October 2 by scoring a double hundred in the Irani Cup 2024 match against the Rest of India at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. He reached this remarkable milestone in 254 balls.
Sarfaraz Khan’s record breaking double century for Mumbai
With that Sarfaraz the first Mumbai batter to score 200 runs in the tournament’s history. The previous highest score was Ramnath Patkar‘s 195 against Rest of India in Pune back in 1972. The 26-year-old now boasts an impressive average of 69.6 in first-class cricket, which is the second-highest behind Vijay Merchant‘s 81.8 in India. By the end of the second day’s play, Sarfaraz remained not out on 210, contributing significantly as Mumbai reached 484 for 8 by the 127th over, thereby gaining the upper hand in the match. Shortly after on Day 3, the defending Ranji Trophy champions crossed the 500-run milestone.
Irani Cup: Final performance and historical context
Sarfaraz’s innings ended with him remaining unbeaten on 222 as Mumbai was eventually bowled out for 537 runs in their first innings on the third day. This score places him among the elite, as Sarfaraz’s 222 stands as the fifth-highest individual score in the history of the Irani Cup. The record is led by Wasim Jaffer, who scored a marathon 286 runs for Vidarbha in 2018.
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Sarfaraz’s achievement also broke the records of notable players like Yuvraj Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ravi Shastri, who have previously scored double-hundreds in the Irani Cup. Yuvraj scored 204* back in 2010, while Jaiswal amassed 213 runs last year in Gwalior against Madhya Pradesh, and Shastri’s 217-run knock for Rest of India came in 1990 against Bengal.
Key contributions and partnerships against the Rest of India
Sarfaraz’s knock played a crucial role in helping Mumbai recover from a precarious 139 for 4 following the dismissal of Shreyas Iyer for 57. He shared a vital 131-run partnership with captain Ajinkya Rahane, who narrowly missed a century, falling short by just 3 runs. Following this, Sarfaraz formed a formidable 183-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Tanush Kotian, solidifying Mumbai’s position and setting a strong foundation for their innings.
