'Jumping' Sarfaraz helps Rishabh Pant avoid massive run-out in Bengaluru Test

Young batter Sarfaraz Khan was spotted jumping to help Rishabh Pant narrowly escape a major run-out on Day 4 of the first Test against New Zealand at Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

In Short

• Sarfaraz Khan's quick thinking prevents Rishabh Pant's run-out on Day 4
• The young batter was spotted jumping to help Pant narrowly escape run out
• Indian star scored his first international hundred during 1st Test

Young batter Sarfaraz Khan was seen jumping and yelling at Rishabh Pant as the wicketkeeper avoided a massive run out on Day 4 of the first Test against New Zealand at Bengaluru's iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. A mix-up between the wickets almost saw Pant fall victim to a run-out, but quick thinking from Sarfaraz Khan and a bit of luck allowed India to avoid a costly wicket loss.

The dramatic moment unfolded in the 65th over, with India's score at 270/3 and trailing New Zealand by 86 runs. Sarfaraz Khan, anchoring India's innings with a well-paced knock, cut Matt Henry's delivery late towards deep backward point. What initially seemed like a routine single quickly became a scene of confusion.

Pant, batting at 11*, hesitated after taking off for the first run, unsure whether a second was on the cards. Meanwhile, Sarfaraz, racing to the non-striker's end, immediately realized there was no chance for the extra run. Jumping and waving his arms frantically, Sarfaraz shouted for Pant to stay put.

India vs New Zealand: Day 4 Live Updates | Full Scorecard

Despite Sarfaraz's desperate gestures, Pant continued ball-watching and found himself caught halfway down the pitch. New Zealand's wicketkeeper, Tom Blundell, quickly collected the ball and had what looked like a certain run-out opportunity. However, in an unexpected twist, Blundell misjudged the bounce of the throw. As he lunged forward to grab the ball cleanly for an underarm flick at the stumps, he fumbled, sending the ball wide and allowing Pant to scramble back to safety.

The Indian supporters in the stands let out a collective sigh of relief as the visibly shaken Pant survived the run-out scare. Sarfaraz's frantic efforts, which earned him the nickname "Jumping Sarfaraz" on social media, proved crucial in averting what could have been a game-altering moment.

Adding to the day's drama, Sarfaraz Khan continued his stellar innings, bringing up his maiden Test century shortly after the incident. His 100 came off 110 balls, punctuated with 13 boundaries and three towering sixes. This knock came after a disappointing duck in the first innings, making him the 22nd Indian batter to record a duck and a century in the same Test.