Rajkot: Ahead of the India vs England third Test at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, an emotional and heartwarming moment unfolded as Sarfaraz Khan received his Test cap from legendary cricketer Anil Kumble. The scenes were poignant as Sarfaraz's father, Naushad, standing on the sidelines, couldn't contain his emotions.

Kumble, accompanied by the Indian team, handed the Test cap to Sarfaraz, who, in an emotional exchange, immediately ran towards his father. With tears streaming down Naushad's cheeks, he accepted the cap from his son, kissing the badge on it. The touching moment was a culmination of a dream nurtured by the father and fulfilled by the son through years of dedication and outstanding performances.

Sarfaraz wiped away tears from his father's face and shared a heartfelt hug, creating a scene that resonated with cricket fans globally.

Sarfaraz's journey to the Test arena was marked by remarkable performances in three outstanding Ranji Trophy seasons, where he consistently scored centuries and even challenged Don Bradman's first-class average for a brief period. Despite his stellar domestic record, he was initially overlooked for national selection.

The turning point came when KL Rahul's injury paved the way for Sarfaraz's maiden call-up as a replacement for the third Test against England. Slotted to bat at No.5, a position he has dominated in first-class cricket for Mumbai, Sarfaraz finally made his Test debut.

While the emotional exchange with his father added a personal touch to the debut, Sarfaraz's performance on the field will be keenly watched as he aims to make his mark in international cricket.

In addition to Sarfaraz, another debutant for India in the third Test was Dhruv Jurel, who took over wicketkeeping duties from KS Bharat. The Indian XI also witnessed changes in the bowling department, with Ravindra Jadeja returning in place of Axar Patel, and Mohammed Siraj replacing Mukesh Kumar in the pace bowling attack.

As the video of Sarfaraz consoling his crying father circulates on the internet, fans are eagerly awaiting his performance in the prestigious Test format.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Keonjhar (PTI): A tribal man in Odisha's Keonjhar district on Monday brought the skeleton of his dead sister to a bank to withdraw the money deposited in her name, police said.

The incident occurred at Maliposi branch of Odisha Grameen Bank located at Patana block of Keonjhar district. The man was identified as Jeetu Munda (50) of Dianali village. He was seeking to withdraw Rs 20,000 from the bank account of his elder sister, Kalra Munda (56), who died on January 26, 2026.

"I have run several times to the bank, and the people there told me to bring the account holder to withdraw money deposited in her name. Though I told them that she had died, they did not listen to me and insisted on bringing her to the bank. Therefore, out of frustration, I dug the grave and brought out her skeleton as proof of her death," an illiterate Jeetu Munda told reporters.

Patana Police Station Inspector in charge (IIC) Kiran Prasad Sahu, who reached the bank after getting information, said, "Jeetu is an illiterate tribal man. He does not know what the legal heir or nominee is. The bank officials have failed to make him understand the procedure to withdraw money from the dead person's account."

However, after the incident, the police assured Jeetu Munda that they would facilitate the withdrawal of money from the bank account of his dead sister. Later, the skeleton was again buried at the graveyard in presence of police.

Meanwhile, local Block Development Officer (BDO) Manas Dandpat said that he was not approached by anyone for the legal heir of late Kalra Munda. "Today only, I came to know about it. We will see what can be done to resolve the issue," the BDO said.

Meanwhile, bank sources said that the nominee in Kalra Munda's bank account was also dead. Therefore, Jeetu Munda was the lone claimant over the money deposited in her name.

The local administration has directed the bank officers to make arrangements and ensure that Jeetu Munda, who is the only claimant as per the rules, gets the money as soon as possible.