India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja admitted that it was his wrong call that resulted in the run out of debutant Sarfaraz Khan on Day 1 of the third Test against England in Rajkot.
In his maiden Test innings, Sarfaraz Khan held his nerves to score a 48-ball half-century. The right-hander was looking set for a hundred but a mix-up with Jadeja saw him departing for 62 off 66 balls.
It all happened during the 82nd over of the day when Jadeja was batting on 99. The southpaw was looking to steal a single off a James Anderson delivery to notch up his three-figure mark.
Sarfaraz reacted instantly to Jadeja's call and took off in order to help his partner get to his ton. But Jadeja realized he wouldn’t make it to the other end as the ball went straight to Mark Wood at mid-on. This left Sarfaraz high and dry and Wood’s throw was a direct hit at the non-striker's end.
After the day’s play, Ravindra Jadeja shared an Instagram story, where he acknowledged his mistake.
“Feeling bad for @sarfarazkhan97 it was a wrong call,” Jadeja wrote, before adding “Well played” in the appreciation for Sarfaraz.
On the other hand, Sarfaraz Khan played down the run out in his post-day press conference, saying that such kind of things happen on the cricket field.
"At times there is miscommunication, and it is a part of the game. Sometimes you get run out. Such kind of things happen," Sarfaraz told reporters.
Sarfaraz Khan was peppered with short deliveries by England pacer Mark Wood when he came out to bat but constant conversations with Jadeja allowed him to see off the initial nervy period.
"I talked to him at lunch time. I am that type of batter who like to talk while batting about what is going on. So, I told Jadeja to keep talking to me while I bat. He supported me a lot today and spoke to me at lunchtime," Sarfaraz said.
"He told me how the debutants feel and how he felt as a debutant. I was a bit nervous, especially when I played my first sweep and missed it. But he told me to take some time and it would be easy. I listened to him and tried implementing it.".
On what Jadeja said on the run out, Sarfaraz said: "He said there was a bit of miscommunication, but I said it's okay."
Coming to the match, India finished the opening day at 326/5, with Ravindra Jadeja (110*) and nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav (1*) unbeaten in the middle. Mark Wood was the pick of the English bowlers, returning with the figures of 3/69 in his 17 overs.
(With PTI inputs)
