Mumbai's cricket team is rallying behind Sarfaraz Khan, who has faced setbacks after being overlooked for national and 'A' teams. Siddesh Lad expressed the team's commitment to support Sarfaraz, saying,
"any way we can. "
Despite his past domestic success, Sarfaraz has struggled this Ranji Trophy season with scores of 42, 32, 1, 15, and 5 not out in three matches.
Having been part of the Indian squad during the Australia tour, Sarfaraz has since not been selected for any 'A' team assignments. Lad acknowledged that such situations can be demotivating but emphasized the importance of team support. "At the end, he is a human being and everyone makes some mistakes. There is always that rough patch for big players," Lad stated.
Lad highlighted the team's strategy to boost Sarfaraz's confidence. "If we look at the last 4-5 years, he has consistently scored runs," Lad noted. The team believes in Sarfaraz's potential to deliver significant performances if he regains his form. They aim to uplift his spirits and help him play big innings.
Mumbai's current standing in the Elite Group D sees them tied with Hyderabad and Jammu and Kashmir at 10 points each. Lad stressed the significance of their upcoming home matches against Himachal Pradesh and Puducherry. "Both these matches are very important for us. We have to finish the first leg well," Lad said.
The team has developed a better understanding of the BKC Ground pitch, which has become slower and more spin-friendly due to prolonged rains. "Of course, if you are playing at your home, you know the conditions, and everything about the pitch," Lad explained. Winning these games is crucial for Mumbai to qualify for the knockout stage.
In their recent match against Rajasthan in Jaipur, Mumbai conceded a 363-run lead in the first innings but managed a draw thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal's second innings century. "We didn't give the outright win. We batted really well in the second inning," Lad said, praising Jaiswal and Musheer Khan's performances.
Lad shared insights on handling pressure as a key player for Mumbai. He noted that expectations are high whether playing for Mumbai or club cricket. "Any game for Mumbai, or even for the club cricket, pressure will be always there because if I go and play for a club, there will be expectations from me," he said.
Lad stressed that even reaching finals isn't enough; losing them is seen as a failure. However, his experience has helped him manage pressure effectively when needed by the team. "There are high expectations always from the Mumbai team," he added.
With inputs from PTI
