Sarfaraz Khan scripted another superb hundred that kept Mumbai a little ahead of Madhya Pradesh at the end of Day II of the Ranji Trophy final at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Courtesy Sarfaraz’s fourth hundred of the season (134 off 243 balls), the 41-time champions managed a fighting 374 in their first innings after resuming the day at 248 for 5.

But Madhya Pradesh wouldn’t be too unhappy as they finished the second day at 123 for 1 with Yash Dubey (44 batting) and Shubham Sharma (41 batting) adding 76 runs so far for the second wicket.

The day belonged to none other than Sarfaraz, who now has an astounding 937 runs in the tournament in just six games and could make it 1,000 for the season if Mumbai bat again in this final.

His knock comprised 13 boundaries and two huge sixes, one over square leg off left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya and the other down the ground off off-spinner Saransh Jain.

But what stood out was how he managed the innings after Shams Mulani was trapped lbw by Gourav Yadav (4/106) in the first over on Thursday.

His batting with the tail showed his newfound maturity, which is proving to be a boon for Mumbai cricket. He chose the loose deliveries for a boundary, forcing opposition captain Aditya Shrivastava to open the field.

The manner in which Sarfaraz has turned a corner since the 2019-20 season (928 runs back then) is phenomenal, especially as he had disciplinary issues early in his career, which also forced him to leave Mumbai for a season.

With father Naushad Khan, who also doubles up as his coach, making him play 400 balls (nearly 67 overs including nets and knocking) a day at practice, Sarfaraz 2.0 is a battle-hardened man and the fighter that any captain would want to bank on.

Senior selectors Sunil Joshi and Harvinder Singh, who are both in Bangalore now, have also spoken to Sarfaraz after the day’s proceedings. The 24-year-old, though, is focused firmly on the present.

“As far as Team India’s selection is concerned, I’m working hard. My focus is only on scoring runs. Every person has dreams. It will happen if it’ there in my destiny,” he said.

Sarfaraz also credited his father for the dream season he has had.

“You all know the roller-coaster ride I’ve had. If not for my father, I wouldn’t have been here,” a teary-eyed Sarfaraz said after the day’s play.

“When we had nothing, I used to travel with my father in trains. When I started playing cricket, I had dreamt of scoring a century for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. That was fulfilled.

“Then I had another dream of scoring a hundred in a Ranji final when my team needed it the most. That is why I got emotional after my century, as my father has worked very hard. All the credit for my success goes to him. Without him, I would be nothing. He has never left my side. Many times, I feel bad thinking about him, because he has always stood by me,” Sarfaraz said.

Sarfaraz acknowledged this knock as his best ever in the Ranji Trophy. “This is my best ever knock in the Ranji Trophy as this is the final and it came when the team was not in a good situation.”

Brief scores: Mumbai 374 (S. Khan 134; G. Yadav 4/106). Madhya Pradesh 123/1 (Y. Dubey 44 batting). At stumps, Day II