KL Rahul subtly hit out as Pat Cummins sent Starc 'he will give you migraines' warning ahead of AUS Tests in India

Indian middle-order batsman Sarfaraz Khan made the most of the opportunity that came his way in the opening Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. Replacing the injured Shubman Gill, Sarfaraz managed a majestic knock of 150 on day four to force him into talks for the much-anticipated tour of Australia, which begins with the Perth Test next month.

After a counter-attacking fifty on the third day, in which he teamed up with former India captain Virat Kohli to form a 136-run partnership in response to a 356-run lead by New Zealand in the first innings, Sarfaraz found able support from former U-19 teammate Rishabh Pant as the pair forged an innings-reviving 178-run stand. Along the way, he scored his first international score before hitting 150 out of 195 to help India take the lead in the game.

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar was impressed with his performance, especially against the New Zealand fast bowlers in the first two sessions on Saturday, and felt India should consider him for the starting XI for the Australia tour.

“It makes me very happy to see him playing fast bowlers and he has played fast bowlers before against England too. “It was a pitch that was very similar to the overseas pitches we get where there's a bit of pace and bounce.” Interestingly, “I imagine it on a flatter pitch in Australia where there isn't a lot of seam movement,” Manjrekar said, according to ESPNcricinfo.

Explaining his remark, Manjrekar further said that Sarfaraz was capable of leaving Australian pacers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc frustrated with his attacking play.

“He will give the Australian bowlers a migraine because of the shots he plays. There is certainty, there is calm and if you see the close-up of Sarfaraz, he always sees the ball hitting his bat. He has a “His technique is not bad for Australia. I am very excited to see how he does and he is definitely a candidate and he should be in the starting XI against Australia,” Manjrekar added.

So no room for KL Rahul?

Sarfaraz was forced to sit out during the Bangladesh Test series last month as India backed an experienced KL Rahul with an eye on the Border-Gavaskar Test series. But batting at No. 6 didn't bring luck to Rahul, who featured primarily as a top-class batsman in Test cricket, as he returned with just a half-century to hit.

To make his situation worse, he was faced with the second new ball in the final hour of Day 4 on Saturday and scored just 12 off 16, leaving many wondering whether India should now support Sarfaraz, who was only one place in the found line. after Gill suffered a stiff neck on the eve of the first Test against New Zealand.

With Manjrekar backing Sarfaraz for the Australia tour, he certainly hinted, albeit subtly, that the team should reconsider Rahul's place.