In the opening game of the 2018 Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament, Mumbai, captained by Ayush Mhatre, produced a resounding century thanks to star middle-order batsman Sarfaraz Khan. On Monday, August 18, Sarfaraz, who has amassed 371 runs in six Test matches for India, batted at number five and scored 138 off 114 balls before leaving the game due to injury at the Gojan Cricket Ground B against the TNCA XI. He hit six sixes and ten fours in his innings.
Sarfaraz Khan formed important partnerships while he was at the crease, scoring 72 runs with Suved Parkar in 91 balls for the fourth wicket and 129 runs with Aakash Parkar in 128 balls for the sixth wicket.
Mumbai scored more than 350 runs after winning the toss and choosing to bat first. Aakash Parkar reached fifty, Suved struck 72 off 121 balls with five fours and a six, and openers Musheer Khan and Ayush Mhatre slumped after starting.
Sarfaraz khan hits Hundred against TNCA in BuchiBabu tournament pic.twitter.com/5cZzXpwmja
— Rohit Baliyan (@rohit_balyan) August 18, 2025
The BCCI selectors surprisingly omitted Sarfaraz for the five-match Test series, first against Australia and then in England. Sarfaraz struck 150 in the second innings of the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand in November 2024 and double fifties on his Test debut against England in Rajkot last year. When India hosts the West Indies for a couple of Test matches in October, he is anticipated to return to the red-ball internationals.
Sarfaraz Khan century now makes him a stronger candidate to be included in India’s team for the forthcoming home series against the West Indies and South Africa, given his first-class batting average of 65.98 and his recent improvements in fitness. India will play South Africa from November 14–18 in Kolkata and November 22–26 in Guwahati, and the West Indies from October 2–14 in Ahmedabad and Delhi.
The Mumbai batter will play for the West Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2025, which is set for August 28–September 11, following the Buchi Babu assignment. Along with important international players like Shreyas Iyer and Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shardul Thakur will serve as the team’s leader.
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