Pakistan keeper-batter Sarfaraz Ahmed made a fantastic return to Test cricket, slamming a gutsy half-century on Day 1 of the series opener against New Zealand on Monday, December 26.Playing in his first-ever home Test, Sarfaraz showed impressive form with the bat, scoring 86 runs off 153 balls. The former Pakistan captain replaced Mohammad Rizwan in the playing XI, making a comeback in the red-ball team after nearly four years.Several fans lauded Sarfaraz for making the most of the opportunity by contributing significantly under pressure. Here are some of the reactions on Twitter:Bilal🇵🇰🇧🇫@RanaBilalEjaz1What a comeback after his four years gap #SarfarazAhmed1What a comeback after his four years gap 🔥♥️ #SarfarazAhmed https://t.co/3lfAqH8iryHafiz Iftikhar@Beingmuslim92#SarfarazAhmed#BabarAzam𓃵Love u saifi bhaiNext time In Sha Allah 🏏100 krna.@SarfarazA_5441#SarfarazAhmed#BabarAzam𓃵Love u saifi bhaiNext time In Sha Allah 🏏100 krna.@SarfarazA_54 https://t.co/Gz6fRWWML4JEDII TWEETS@JunaidJaideeWhat A Come Back Sarfaraz Ahmed he Deserved A Hundred@SarfarazA_54 #PakVsNZWhat A Come Back Sarfaraz Ahmed he Deserved A Hundred👑👑@SarfarazA_54 #PakVsNZ https://t.co/qcxz3PgWlgLuqman tariq@luqmantariq353Life doesn't give 2nd Chance but if it gives one, avail it like Sarfraz Ahmed!This is called Comeback!Where are haters now?#PakvsNZ #captain#SarfarazAhmed1Life doesn't give 2nd Chance but if it gives one, avail it like Sarfraz Ahmed!This is called Comeback!Where are haters now?#PakvsNZ #captain#SarfarazAhmed https://t.co/8ZLVgWubgpAHMAD RASHAD@AHMADRASHAD51What a fighter he is, Great come back kaaptan.#SarfarazAhmed #PAKvNZ2What a fighter he is, Great come back kaaptan.#SarfarazAhmed #PAKvNZ https://t.co/fFSUazqvqoSikandar Diyat@sikandardiyatThe wait for a hundred continues but an excellent innings from Sarfaraz Ahmed on his Test comeback! 🏽#PAKvNZThe wait for a hundred continues but an excellent innings from Sarfaraz Ahmed on his Test comeback! 👏🏽#PAKvNZ𝙕𝙖𝙠𝙞 𝙃𝙖𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧@mzakihaiderThis is one remarkable debut innings by #SarfarazAhmed at home. He was under pressure as he replaced Rizwan. And when he came out to bat, Pakistan was already 4 down in before the lunch! High class A game changing partnership with #BabarAzam𓃵 #PakvsNZ1This is one remarkable debut innings by #SarfarazAhmed at home. He was under pressure as he replaced Rizwan. And when he came out to bat, Pakistan was already 4 down in before the lunch! High class 🔥🔥 A game changing partnership with #BabarAzam𓃵 #PakvsNZUshna🦋🏏@monotheisticcNo unnecessary tweets, no rona petna, no controversy, no dramei bazi RESULTS:#SarfarazAhmed1No unnecessary tweets, no rona petna, no controversy, no dramei bazi RESULTS:#SarfarazAhmed https://t.co/CcbRaazOF8RANIA🇵🇰@PCT_STAN_Saifi bhai batted so well!!He missed a well deserved centurySo happy for him#PakvsNZ #SarfarazAhmed6Saifi bhai batted so well!!He missed a well deserved centurySo happy for him😍#PakvsNZ #SarfarazAhmedFAIZ FAZEL@theFaizFazelSarfaraz Ahmed is the only Pakistani player with almost zero haters in India. The love Sarafraz is getting unreal. #PakvsNZ @SarfarazA_54Sarfaraz Ahmed is the only Pakistani player with almost zero haters in India. The love Sarafraz is getting unreal. ♥️#PakvsNZ @SarfarazA_54𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐝♕︎@danyal_says_Sarfaraz Ahmed is dismissed on 86, he was struggling with a niggle but he kept fighting. Missed out on a well deserved century, An extraordinary innings on his comeback under immense pressure Well played, warrior #PakvsNZ1Sarfaraz Ahmed is dismissed on 86, he was struggling with a niggle but he kept fighting. Missed out on a well deserved century, An extraordinary innings on his comeback under immense pressure 👏👏Well played, warrior ♥️#PakvsNZ https://t.co/HCX3GSdENiMaria Anjum@MariaAnjum11Back with a Bang!!!! Excellent knock by our very own kaptaaan. #SarfarazAhmedBack with a Bang!!!! Excellent knock by our very own kaptaaan. #SarfarazAhmedHamza Irfan@Hamza_Irfan13Some 80s are better than 100. Well played champ!#SarfarazAhmed #PakvsNZ2Some 80s are better than 100⭐️. Well played champ!❤️👑#SarfarazAhmed #PakvsNZ https://t.co/coBkpIBlidZain Ali (زین علی)@zamcwWell played #SarfarazAhmed you were always the great gem for Pakistan nice comeback.Well played #SarfarazAhmed you were always the great gem for Pakistan nice comeback. https://t.co/VZfu6aA02XAhtasham Riaz@AhtashamRiaz_#Experience has no substitute. Welcome back @SarfarazA_54 What a player. respect for this amazing player. Hopefully we will see more consistency in future innings. #SarfarazAhmed #PakvsNZ71#Experience has no substitute. Welcome back @SarfarazA_54 👏👏👏 What a player. respect for this amazing player. Hopefully we will see more consistency in future innings. #SarfarazAhmed #PakvsNZ https://t.co/w4DjwVb8O8Naveed Ather@NaveedAther4Kaptaan is back with a bang!!! Dillon ka kaptan sarfaraz ahmed #SarfarazAhmedKaptaan is back with a bang!!! Dillon ka kaptan sarfaraz ahmed #SarfarazAhmedJaya Suriyan@ImSurya05Sarfaraz Ahmed scored 86 in 153 balls - put on a 196 partnership with Babar when the team was 110/4.He's playing his first Test in 4 years and made a statement! Grand comeback by Sarfaraz.Sarfaraz Ahmed scored 86 in 153 balls - put on a 196 partnership with Babar when the team was 110/4.He's playing his first Test in 4 years and made a statement! Grand comeback by Sarfaraz.Armaan Hashmi@InamUrwaThe Four Years wait worth it!!🥺🥺Sarfaraz Ahmed 50Heart so full for my Kaptaan Bazball Boom Boom BallKaptaan u beauty 🤎#SarfarazAhmedThe Four Years wait worth it!!🥺🥺Sarfaraz Ahmed 50Heart so full for my Kaptaan ❤️Bazball Boom Boom BallKaptaan u beauty 🤎❤#SarfarazAhmed https://t.co/SM4qJewfvoNotably, Pakistan had a shaky start after electing to bat first in the first Test at the National Stadium in Karachi. However, Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed rescued their team, stitching together a stunning 196-run partnership for the fifth wicket.Sarfaraz has impressed many with his batting exploits in domestic cricket lately. With Rizwan struggling for form in red-ball cricket, the former captain could cement his place in the team once again by doing well in the ongoing two-Test series against New Zealand.Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed put Pakistan in pole position against New ZealandAlthough Pakistan's top-order batters failed to put up a fight against the Kiwi bowlers, the hosts managed to finish well on the opening day thanks to valuable contributions from Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed.While Sarfaraz missed out on a well-deserved ton, Babar slammed his ninth Test century to help his team gain the upper hand. The Pakistani skipper is unbeaten on 161 with the team at 317/5 at stumps.Babar, who is currently the leading run-getter this calendar year in the longest format of the game, hit his fourth Test ton in 2022. The batter has a significant chance of completing his maiden double century in the format.Sportskeeda@SportskeedaBabar Azam becomes the highest Test run-scorer of 2022 #CricketTwitter #pakvsnz265Babar Azam becomes the highest Test run-scorer of 2022 🔥#CricketTwitter #pakvsnz https://t.co/2Pdwqq3tT8Following their embarrassing home series loss to England, Babar Azam and Co. will hope to make amends by coming up with an improved performance against the Blackcaps.