NEW DELHI: Sarfaraz Khan showcased his ability to perform in overseas conditions, responding strongly after being overlooked for the Australia tour and subsequently dropped from the Test squad for the England series. The right-hander silenced his critics with a composed 92 off 119 balls for India A against England Lions in the first unofficial Test at the St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury.His knock included 13 boundaries and was a timely reminder of his red-ball prowess.Earlier this year, Sarfaraz impressed on Test debut against England in February 2024, scoring two half-centuries. He later struck a valiant 150 against New Zealand in Bengaluru, though in a losing cause. However, a dip in form followed, as he managed just 21 runs in his next four innings, leading to his exclusion from the playing XI.Despite his early promise, Sarfaraz did not feature in any of the five Tests during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where India went down 3-1.His omission continued into the England series, with the selectors opting for Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair instead. The decision raised eyebrows, given Sarfaraz’s consistent domestic performances.The BCCI, led by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, recently announced an 18-member squad for the five-Test series in England. Shubman Gill has been appointed India’s new Test captain, with Rishabh Pant named as his deputy.
Sarfaraz, however, was a notable absentee.When asked about the decision to leave Sarfaraz out, Agarkar responded:“Sometimes you just have to make good decisions. Sarfaraz, I know he got a 100 in the first Test and then didn’t get runs. Sometimes it’s decisions the team management takes,” Agarkar said.He further explained the inclusion of Karun Nair over Sarfaraz:“At the moment, Karun has scored heaps of runs in domestic, has played a bit of Test cricket, played a bit of county cricket. With Virat not there, clearly we’re lacking a bit of experience. We felt his experience could help,” added Agarkar.On the limited spots available in the squad, he stated:“We can’t pick 50 players now, so naturally when you have to pick 18 players, some players will be missing out.”India’s five-Test series in England kicks off in Leeds on June 20.
