The Inspiring Rise Of Sarfaraz Khan: A Boy Who Broke Sachin Tendulkar’s 439 Run Record At 12, Lost 17 Kilos In 2025, Married Romana Zahoor, And Bui...

There are stories in Indian cricket that feel stitched together by destiny, but Sarfaraz Khan’s journey reads like something far more human. It is messy, bruised, hopeful, and, at times, painfully unfair.

Long before he became the boy who broke Sachin Tendulkar’s Harris Shield record, long before he wore the Indian Test jersey or was recognised as the child prodigy who outgrew his label, Sarfaraz was simply the skinny kid from Azad Maidan who swung at tennis balls until his palms hurt. His father Naushad Khan – a stern coach but a gentler parent – built a synthetic pitch next to their house so the monsoon wouldn’t swallow the boy’s dream whole. And every day, no matter how heavy the skies looked, Sarfaraz batted until he couldn’t feel the sweat on his back anymore. This was the beginning of a journey too rough to be romanticised. A child prodigy accused of age fraud at 13; a teenage IPL sensation discarded for his weight; a domestic giant ignored despite mountains of runs; a debut delayed by circumstances, politics, injuries, and luck. At every stage, someone told him he wasn’t enough. At every stage, he turned up again. And today, the same boy who once couldn’t afford the luxury of time off from training lives a life where his name commands endorsements, his bat fetches contracts, and his story is finally told with the dignity it always deserved. This is the rise of Sarfaraz Khan—told not as a statistic, but as a struggle worth remembering.

The Boy Who Outscored Tendulkar Before He Became A Teenager

A Record That Announced A Meteor

Sarfaraz’s childhood wasn’t the picture-perfect Mumbai cricket fantasy people like to imagine. He grew up between nets, long bus rides, monsoon puddles and broken windshields (he once broke several during practice sessions). When he was 12, he walked into the Harris Shield—one of India’s oldest school tournaments—and walked out with 439 runs off 421 balls. The innings carried 56 fours and 12 sixes, shattering Sachin Tendulkar’s 1988 record. For most children, this would have been the peak. For Sarfaraz, it was simply the beginning of a life where he’d constantly be asked to do more.

Misunderstood, Misjudged And Momentarily Misplaced

The Controversy That Nearly Broke Him

In 2011, a school team accused him of being overage. Bone tests, cross-checks, and a second round of medical investigations followed. His father, who had built his entire coaching life on discipline and integrity, was devastated. Sarfaraz was rattled. For months, his cricket looked like the inside of his mind—scattered, tired, unsure. Yet when the dust settled, he returned. Not with a dramatic comeback, but with the steady quietness only someone deeply committed to their craft can produce.

The IPL Wonderkid Who Became A Case Study In Lost Potential

And Then Became A Case Study In Reinvention

In 2015, at just 17 years and 177 days old, Sarfaraz became the youngest player to debut in the IPL. Royal Challengers Bangalore paid Rs 50 lakh for a child who still needed permission to sit in the first row of a press conference. In his breakout innings—45 off 21 balls—Virat Kohli bowed to him. Chris Gayle called him “a son”. By 2016, he was smashing 35 off 10 balls against Bhuvneshwar Kumar, then one of the most lethal bowlers in the world. But soon, the narrative shifted.

His weight became a headline. His fitness became a punchline. IPL franchises moved on. And by 2025, he went unsold at the auction. It wasn’t the failure—it was the humiliation that hurt him. Most players break at this point. Sarfaraz went the other way. He lost 17 kilos in 2025. He rebuilt his game. He returned to the grind that first made him special. This time, the world noticed.

The Long-Awaited Test Debut That Rewrote Records

Redemption In Rajkot, 2024

On 15 February 2024, after years of shouting his case through runs nobody seemed to value enough, Sarfaraz Khan finally walked out in India whites. His debut innings? A punchy 62 off 66 balls. His second innings? An unbeaten 68 off 72. He became the fourth Indian cricketer to score twin fifties on Test debut, joining Dilawar Hussain, Sunil Gavaskar and Shreyas Iyer. But the moment that defined him was also the moment that broke him—a mix-up with Ravindra Jadeja that cost him his wicket. Jadeja later apologised publicly: “Feeling bad for Sarfaraz Khan. It was my wrong call. Well played.” — Ravindra Jadeja But that’s the thing with Sarfaraz. Even when cricket fails him, he refuses to fail cricket.

The Lifestyle He Earned Through Sweat, Scars And A Bat That Wouldn’t Quit

A Life He Once Only Imagined

Now, at 28, Sarfaraz finally has the luxury his early years never afforded him. He lives in his childhood home in Mumbai with his family, but it’s no longer the humble, crowded existence it once was. His life today is a blend of comfort, financial stability and confidence—each earned through years of relentless effort.

His Cars

Audi – The signature upgrade for many young cricketers, and a marker of his upward trajectory. Renault Duster – A reminder of simpler years and humble beginnings.

His Endorsements

Sarfaraz has already secured deals with SG and Puma, placing him among cricket’s emerging commercial faces. For a player whose career nearly stalled, this is as symbolic as it is financial.

Sarfaraz Khan: Net Worth, Income And What Built It All

How Much Does One Of India’s Most Discussed Young Cricketers Earn?

Sarfaraz’s estimated net worth stands at $2 million (around Rs 16.6 crore). A significant portion comes from: BCCI’s Grade C Contract (2024–25) – Rs 1 crore annually Domestic match fees Endorsements and partnerships Past IPL contracts, where he once fetched Rs 3 crore from RCB

Salary Across The Years

A Nostalgic Look At How His Earnings Grew RCB (2015–2017) – Rs 50 lakh per season RCB (2018) – Rs 3 crore Punjab Kings (2019–2021) – Between Rs 20–25 lakh Delhi Capitals (2022–2023) – Rs 20 lakh Each figure is a milestone in a journey that has seen both applause and abandonment.