The BCCI selection panel declared a 15-man India A team for the coming two first-class games vs South Africa A but there was no Sarfaraz Khan in the list. The snub comes one day ahead of Mumbai batter’s 28th birthday and has surprised everyone, considering his regular domestic run as well as improved fitness levels.
Sarfaraz, who has been a prolific run-scorer in domestic cricket and even made his international debut last year, underwent a major physical transformation earlier this year, shedding around 17 kilograms to boost his fitness. Despite his efforts, the selectors’ call may not be entirely without reason.
According to a PTI report, the prime reason for his omission is the comeback of Rishabh Pant, who is expected to lead the team and play competitive cricket for the first time since a toe injury withdrew him from the England tour in late July. Pant should take the No. 5 spot the same one he does in the senior side with not much room for Sarfaraz in the playing XI even if he was selected.
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“Sarfaraz should have a chat with the Mumbai team management and also with their senior-most player, Ajinkya Rahane, and, maybe, try out batting at No. 3 where he might have to play the new ball. If he keeps batting at No. 5 or 6, it won’t help. India have more all-round options for those slots.
“Pant, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Reddy… if all are fit and available, they will occupy the middle-order, being multi-skilled players. When Pant is injured, it will be Dhruv Jurel batting at No. 5 or 6,” a former national selector close to the developments told PTI.
But selectors are said to feel that Sarfaraz can enhance his prospects for a return if he can adjust himself to a higher batting position. The No. 3 position continues to be one of the few unsettled roles in India’s Test structure, and Sai Sudharsan has been granted a chance to establish himself there in the India A system. Karun Nair had previously been experimented with in the role during the England series but did not impress.
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The report also mentioned that Sarfaraz now seems to have fallen behind Rajat Patidar and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the pecking order. Patidar, though with a modest Test performance earlier this year, still has the selectors’ confidence, whereas Gaikwad’s domestic form of late has been outstanding. The Chennai Super Kings captain has scored 184, 91, and a fifty in his previous three first-class matches, while RCB captain Patidar has hit three centuries including a double ton and three fifties in his past five games.
