As England's chances of defeating India in the final test match at Dharamsala came to an end, a lighthearted comment from Sarfaraz Khan helped lift the mood on Day 3 of the nail-biting contest. With only a few wickets remaining between a famous victory and the home team, Sarfaraz was heard suggesting to young England spinner Shoaib Bashir that he should finish off the last few wickets quickly.
“Hit out and finish the game so that we can go to the mountains to see the snow,” Sarfaraz said from his position at short-leg. His quip, captured on the stump microphone, drew laughter from nearby fielders as well as watching spectators. By lunch on the third day, India needed only a few scalps to complete a convincing win, proving their Test credentials after dominating the previous matches as well.
Despite fighting efforts from Joe Root, England's batting had crumbled yet again on the green Dharamsala track. Now it was up to the tail-enders like Bashir to wrap things up in a hurry so the hosts could celebrate victory and also enjoy the scenic beauty promised by Sarfaraz – fresh snowfall in the Himalayan mountains. Although the game finished on Day 4, Sarfaraz's lighthearted comment helped lift spirits and underlined India's dominance and excitement for what was to come after the win.
