EARLIER LAST WEEK, Royal Challengers Bangalore announced that they will be retaining Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Sarfaraz Khan for the upcoming IPL season.
While the names of Kohli and ABD were predictable, Sarfaraz’s inclusion came like a surprise to the fans. The Mumbai-lad, who was bought by RCB for Rs.50 lakhs in the 2015 IPL auctions, was retained over Chris Gayle and Yuzvendra Chahal. As reported by India TV, the 20-year-old thanked the India skipper for having shown faith in him.
"I would like to thank the RCB management as they have made me more confident and also to Virat Kohli, who kept his faith in me. Avinash Sadhya told me on phone that RCB is retaining me. Since my dad takes the decisions for me, he spoke and confirmed the matter. I am really glad to be a part of the team."
Speaking about the rapport that he shares with Kohli, Sarfaraz said that the prolific batsman has been comforting and has always boosted his confidence.
"I remember when I was going to play my first IPL match and suffered an injury in the knee, Kohli had comforted me with a long and sweet message, stating that whatever happens, happens for the best and this is the time one gets to know themselves; so no need to worry. This really boosted my confidence."
The promising youngster added that he is looking forward to a successful season with the Bengaluru franchise. He also divulged about a suggestion offered by Kohli.
"I want to perform well and help the team win and all we think about is how we can win and this time RCB have to win. When I started in the IPL, my fitness was quite low, but it was Kohli who advised and guided me. My advice for the youngsters is to learn from the seniors. If you're looking for success then you should spend more time on the field and work hard."