In today’s cricket, players have a lot of responsibilities, so staying fit is very important if they want to play in all types of matches regularly.
Sarfaraz Khan is still new to playing for India, and he has just started playing Test matches. He knows that playing at an international level requires a player to be in great shape.
So, the 26-year-old didn’t see his time off from cricket as a vacation. Instead, he used that time to get fitter by starting his day with long-distance running at 4:30 AM.
“There’s no such thing as an off-season for me,” Sarfaraz said in an interview with The Indian Express. “I’d get up at 4:15 am and by 4:30 am, I’d start my day with a long run. This really helped me get fitter because by the end of the month, I could run 5 kilometers in 30-31 minutes.”
“Improving my fitness was my main goal, and my dad and I made a plan. After my run, I’d go to the gym. The first part of my day was focused on fitness and practicing my fielding. I’d start working on my batting in the evening,” he explained.
Sarfaraz started playing for India in February, participating in three out of five Test matches against England in India. He scored three half-centuries in five innings, helping India win the series 4-1.
Now that he has fulfilled his dream of playing for India, the middle-order batter aims to become a regular player in Test matches.
“My father and I had a dream to play for India, and I achieved it by playing against England. But this shouldn’t be the end. I need to keep this dream alive for as long as possible, which means I have to work very hard. This is not the time to relax. In fact, I need to work even harder,” Sarfaraz explained.
The Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament in Tamil Nadu is Sarfaraz’s first competitive event since March of this year. He aims to use this red-ball tournament to regain his form and make a strong case to stay in India’s Test team.
Following the Buchi Babu tournament, Sarfaraz will participate in the Duleep Trophy, playing for India B and led by captain Abhimanyu Easwaran.
This tournament marks the beginning of India’s domestic cricket season, and selectors will be closely observing the performances of many top players, especially with the Bangladesh Test series coming up next month.
