Sarfaraz Khan…. That Indian cricketer whose bat has performed well in domestic cricket, but till now has not been able to fully make a place in the eyes of the selectors. Sarfaraz turned 28 on 22 October (Wednesday). Sarfaraz was last a part of the Indian team on the Australia tour, where he did not get a chance to play in a single match. After that he was dropped from the team. Now he has not even got a place in the India-A team, which has to play two four-day matches against South Africa-A. No clear reason was given for this.
Sarfaraz Khan After a long wait, he made his Test debut against England in Rajkot in February 2024. In his debut Test series, Sarfaraz played three Test matches, in which he scored 200 runs at an average of 50 and with the help of 3 half-centuries. Last year in October-November, he played three test matches against New Zealand. He even scored the first century (150 runs) of his Test career in Bengaluru. Since that New Zealand series, Sarfaraz has not been able to play a single match for the Indian team.
It seems that the selectors do not have faith in his talent. It was said about Sarfaraz Khan that he would not be able to handle swing or seam bowling on foreign soil. But this year, during the tour of England, he scored 92 runs for India A against England Lions. Then in the intra-squad match, facing bowlers like Bumrah, Siraj and Akash Deep, he scored unbeaten 102 runs. However, amid this brilliant performance, he could not make a place in the senior team for the five-match Test series. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar had said that this decision was of the team management and there was an option to select only 18 players. Let us tell you that Karun Nair was given preference over Sarfaraz Khan for the series against England.
Fitness and form are no longer an issue
Earlier it was argued that Sarfaraz Khan is overweight, but now he has become quite fit. Sarfaraz has lost about 17 kg weight and further improved his batting. The excuse of fitness and form has ended. It is being said that Sarfaraz had leaked dressing room matters to the media during the Australia tour, due to which the team management and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) became angry with him. He was also added to the team at the last moment for India A’s tour of England. Had he not been selected then, there could have been an uproar because he is part of the BCCI’s central contract list.
When the Indian team was selected for the two-match home Test series against West Indies, it was said that Sarfaraz Khan was not fully fit and he did not get clearance from the Center of Excellence (COE). Now it is being said that he should play in the top-4 for Mumbai, only then he will get another chance for India. Some argue that he should now focus on Ranji Trophy instead of India-A. Sarfaraz plays only red-ball cricket, so this argument also seems weak.
Owaisi also angry with BCCI
Sarfaraz Khan participated in the first match for Mumbai in Ranji Trophy 2025-26, where he scored 42 & 32 runs. One thing is clear that Sarfaraz is completely fit and has been in form, in such a situation, not being selected in the India A team seems a bit ridiculous. Chief of All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Asaduddin Owaisi has also raised questions on BCCI’s decision. Owaisi has asked why Sarfaraz Khan was not selected even for India A?
Sarfaraz Khan has been consistently performing brilliantly in first-class cricket. He has scored 4759 runs in 56 first class matches at an excellent average of 65.19, which included 16 centuries and 15 half-centuries. Sarfaraz has played 6 test matches for the Indian team, in which he has 371 runs in his name at an average of 37.10. Sarfaraz has proved himself in all three – fitness, performance and patience. But lack of clarity in selection, changing criteria and other reasons have put brakes on his international career.
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