Sarfaraz Khan [Source: AFP]Sarfaraz Khan once again showed why he is considered one of the most dependable batters in Indian domestic cricket. Sarfaraz delivered a superb performance on Day 2 of the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2025–26 Round 6 match.Notably, the Mumbai batter was up against Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. He played a sensational innings and brought up a magnificent double century off just 206 balls.Sarfaraz Khan scores his fifth double centuryWith this knock, Sarfaraz registered the fifth double century of his First-Class career, which is a remarkable achievement. Earlier in the innings, he also brought up his 17th First-Class century and his first hundred of the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy season. Since the 2019–20 season, only a few batters have scored more Ranji Trophy centuries than Sarfaraz, proving his consistency at the domestic level.Sarfaraz was eventually dismissed for 227 runs off 219 balls, smashing 19 fours and nine sixes along the way. His strike rate of over 100 clearly showed his attacking intent. One of the highlights of his innings was his dominance against Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, from whom he scored 45 runs in just 39 balls.Meanwhile, Mumbai eventually declared their first innings on Day 2 at 533 for 8, riding on a strong batting performance from their senior players. While Sarfaraz Khan led the charge, captain Siddhesh Lad also played a crucial role, scoring a well-made 104 runs.Notably, in the same innings, he also crossed the 5,000-run mark in First-Class cricket. Thanks to this performance, he now remains one of Mumbai’s most reliable middle-order batters, with a Ranji Trophy average above 70.Sarfaraz Khan’s outstanding form in domestic cricketIn addition to his Ranji Trophy heroics, Sarfaraz has been in excellent form across formats. During the 2025–26 Vijay Hazare Trophy, he smashed the fastest half-century by an Indian in List A cricket, reaching fifty in just 15 balls against Punjab. This broke a long-standing record and showed his ability to shift gears effortlessly.Moreover, he finished the Vijay Hazare Trophy as Mumbai’s highest run-scorer, scoring 303 runs in six innings at an impressive average and strike rate. It is worth mentioning that Sarfaraz also impressed in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT 2025), where he scored 329 runs in seven matches at a strike rate above 200. Sarfaraz Khan eyes comeback to team IndiaAlthough the Mumbai batter last played for India in a Test match against New Zealand in November 2024, he has continued to pile up runs in domestic cricket. Notably, his recent form was further rewarded when Chennai Super Kings bought him at the IPL 2026 auction for 30 lakhs.Even though he is currently outside the Indian team setup, this double century could play an important role in reviving his chances. With strong performances across tournaments, Sarfaraz Khan will now hope to score heavily and fight his way back into the national team.
