Sarfaraz Khan has delivered impressive performances for India in Test cricket, but still he was left unsold at the IPL 2025 auction, leaving many cricket experts and fans surprised. The 27-year-old batsman had been a key figure in India’s recent Test series against New Zealand, showcasing his skills with crucial knocks. However, his lack of strong T20 credentials appears to have overshadowed his success in the longer format.
Breakthrough Test Performances Highlight Sarfaraz’s Talent
The 27-year-old had been integral to India’s Test series against New Zealand earlier this year. While batting for India in his debut Test in Rajkot, Sarfaraz has shared a half-century in both innings matching Sunil Gavaskar’s remarkable achievement from 1971. His masterful knock of 150 runs in the second innings of the Chinnaswamy Test against New Zealand has gathered praise for his resilience on the difficult pitch.
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Limited T20 Experience Costs Sarfaraz At The Auction
Despite his success in the longer formats, Sarfaraz’s lack of strong T20 credentials appears to have been a major factor in his auction omission. His experience lies more in the longer format and his experience is limited in T20s which has given other players who have better T20 stats an edge over him.
Preference For T20 Specialists And Power-Hitters?
One of the marked trends of the IPL auction has once again been towards T20 specialists and franchises picking all-rounders and explosive power-hitters. Sarfaraz, known for his solid technique and ability to anchor innings, may have been seen as less of a fit for this approach, despite his strengths in longer formats.
Sarfaraz Khan’s IPL Journey
Having played for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2023, besides stints with Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
In 2023, he has played 4 matches for Delhi Capitals in which he scores 53 runs. Overall he has played 50 matches and has scored 585 runs with a strike rate for 130.58.
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Sarfaraz has not yet been able to find a steady place in the tournament. This year’s auction advertised the increasing chasm between success in Test cricket and marketability in the IPL as his exclusion was clear evidence of the IPL focus on T20-specific skills at present.
