"Rohit Sharma is like Aamir Khan in Lagaan," says Sarfaraz Khan

A flock of youngsters joined the Indian team at various points under the leadership of Rohit Sharma. One such talent was Sarfaraz Khan, who earned his maiden India call-up earlier this year during the England Tour of India. The 26-year-old batter’s entry into the Indian Test team came on the back of consistent performances in domestic cricket. Khan has now been named in the India squad for the first Test against Bangladesh. While the batter is unlikely to be part of the Playing XI, he recently opened up about Indian captain Rohit Sharma. Khan noted that Sharma is like an elder brother to players like him in the team, as he explained the camaraderie they share with the skipper.

"He treats everyone equally" - Sarfaraz Khan talks about playing under Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma succeeded Virat Kohli as India’s Test captain in 2022 after Kohli stepped down. Since then, the Indian team has seen youngsters like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal cement their positions in the red-ball setup. Additionally, the team has recently included Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan. Cricket enthusiasts may recall that Khan, Gill, Jaiswal, and Jurel were referred to as the "Garden mein ghoomne waale" by Rohit Sharma in an on-field conversation caught on the stump mic. Sarfaraz Khan, in his latest interaction ahead of the India vs Bangladesh series, likened Rohit Sharma to Aamir Khan’s character, Bhuvan, in the well-known film Lagaan.

"He is very different. He makes you feel very comfortable. Rohit Sharma is like a big brother. We enjoy a lot while playing under him. First, I saw him from the outside, now I have played with him and experienced it. He doesn't treat us like juniors; he treats everybody equally," Sarfaraz Khan said. “Lagaan is my favourite movie. Like how Aamir Khan made that team in the movie, in my eyes, Rohit Sharma is like Aamir Khan for this team," he added.

Sarfaraz Khan is currently playing in the Duleep Trophy for India B under Abhimanyu Easwaran. At the conclusion of the first-round matches of the domestic tournament, the BCCI announced a 16-member squad for the Bangladesh Tour of India. Sarfaraz Khan, along with KL Rahul, earned a spot in the India squad for the Test series. However, as Team India begins its training session in Chennai, Sarfaraz Khan has continued playing in the Duleep Trophy. Khan’s exclusion from the preparatory camp indicates that KL Rahul is likely to join India’s Playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh, which starts on September 19.