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Aakash Chopra reckons Sarfaraz Khan's dismissal in India's second innings of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru could have been due to a concentration lapse after reaching 150. He pointed out that the middle-order batter went for a drive, a shot which is not his forte and one which he hardly played during his innings.
Sarfaraz scored 150 runs off 195 deliveries as India were all out for 462 on Saturday, October 19. New Zealand require 107 runs, with all 10 wickets in hand, on Day 5 to register their first Test win in India since 1988.
During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Chopra was asked whether Sarfaraz went for the shot that led to his dismissal because he was being asked a lot of questions outside the off-stump.
"Test cricket goes like that only. It's not mandatory to take the new ball but the opposing team took it because they were lagging in the game, they had fast bowlers, and there are slightly brighter chances of wickets falling with the new ball. Then they also bowled with discipline," he responded.
"The bowling was looking deflated before that but as soon as they got the new ball, there was a spring in the stride, and they were bowling in the right areas. Since he had reached 150, maybe there was a slight concentration lapse, or else he doesn't play drives," Chopra added.
The former India opener pointed out that Sarfaraz predominantly scored his runs behind square, especially against the pacers, and rarely played the drive throughout his innings.
"He tries to stand in his position and play behind the wickets, which he did for 150 runs. He hardly played one or two drives. He played one in the first innings and got out. In the second innings, he played another drive, and this was the second, that's it," Chopra observed.
Sarfaraz Khan added 177 runs for the fourth wicket with Rishabh Pant (99 off 105). He was caught by Ajaz Patel at cover while going for an extravagant drive off Tim Southee's bowling.
"When he looks back, he will think the story would have been very different had he spent another one or two hours" - Aakash Chopra on Sarfaraz Khan
![India suffered a collapse after Sarfaraz Khan's dismissal. [P/C: Getty]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/10/841c0-17293454427184-1920.jpg)
In the same discussion, Aakash Chopra opined that Sarfaraz Khan would regret it when he reflects on his dismissal.
"He committed a mistake. When he looks back, he will think the story would have been very different had he spent another one or two hours. Whether you score 400 or 800, you play six batters because of this only. Only three or four score runs," he said.
The reputed commentator acknowledged that the Mumbai batter played a substantial knock. However, he added that the match situation might have been different had he scored a few more runs.
"The other two are insurance policy because they have to get out. So whoever scores, has to score a lot. 150 is a lot of runs but since you were behind by 356, you feel a few more could probably have been scored. If they had been scored, the story might have been a little different," Chopra noted.
India lost their last six wickets for 54 runs after Sarfaraz Khan's dismissal. William O'Rourke (3/92) and Matt Henry (3/102) ran through the middle and lower order to set up a potentially easy chase for the Kiwis.
