CSK squad -(Source:AFP)Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan did not take the field for Day 3 of the Delhi clash ahead of the Ranji Trophy quarter-final after suffering a major niggle. While batting for Mumbai on Day 2 against Delhi, Sardaraz Khan is suspected to have picked up the injury.Khan, who had slammed a 219-ball 227 against Hyderabad on January 24 during the tournament, was not present on the ground on January 31 for the entire day. A report from Times of India journalist Gaurav Gupta states that Sarfaraz suffered a hamstring injury while batting on Day 2. Sarfaraz Khan’s Ranji Trophy quarter final prospects in danger Sarfaraz Khan’s hamstring injury could be a major concern, and he might be ruled out of the remainder of the Ranji Trophy tournament, given that no further update on his injury has been provided by the cricketing authorities. Before being ruled out, Sarfaraz Khan scored 24 runs in Mumbai’s first innings before being dismissed by Money Grewal while chasing Delhi’s 221-run lead over Mumbai. Sarfaraz Khan’s injury-marred 2026 probes CSK panicPrior to the hamstring injury, Sarfaraz Khan had been managing a wrist injury due to bone swelling in his hand while featuring in the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy for Mumbai. Despite the discomfort, he managed to score a double century against Hyderabad. Following the wrist issue, Sarfaraz was ruled out of Mumbai’s Vijay Hazare Trophy quarter-final against Karnataka after suffering a broken finger during a net session. Overall, Khan has endured multiple injuries during the Ranji Trophy season. However, he has managed to return after each setback. Nevertheless, the most recent hamstring injury has not yet received a positive update. With the Indian Premier League not too far away, the Chennai Super Kings management, who acquired Sarfaraz Khan for ₹75 lakh in the IPL 2026 auction, would prefer him to be fully fit rather than injury-prone. Sarfaraz Khan in golden touch with the bat Sarfaraz Khan’s recent form with the bat has been exceptional. In the England A clash on May 30, 2025, he scored 92 runs off 190 deliveries. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last year, Sarfaraz averaged 65.80 from seven innings while maintaining a remarkable strike rate of 203.09, registering scores of 47-ball 100, 15-ball 28, 22-ball 73, and 25-ball 64. His Vijay Hazare Trophy numbers were equally impressive, as he averaged 75.75 from five matches with a strike rate of 190.57. In his most recent Ranji outing, he has averaged 53.63 from nine innings, although he has not taken the field since the injury. As Day 3 progressed, clouds of concern continued to loom with the Indian Premier League fast approaching. Mumbai, for whom Sarfaraz Khan is currently playing in the Ranji Trophy, belong to Elite Group D in the tournament and are placed at the top of the table with four wins from six matches. They are strong contenders for the quarter-final stage, scheduled for February 6. This situation could pose a serious concern for the team if Khan does not recover in time.
