The Indian cricket team suffered an eight-wicket defeat in their three-match Test series against New Zealand in the first test at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The team was bowled out for a disastrous 46 in the first innings, but with a roaring comeback in the second innings with 462 runs, there seemed to be hope that cricket’s Asian giants would make a significant return. Young batter Sarfaraz Khan was the big-ticket name as he added 150 runs off 195 balls with 18 fours and three sixes. He got this Test after all-rounder Shubman Gill was ruled out due to a stiff neck. Even so, Gill was recently seen doing his bit of practice batting in Bengaluru, which could well mean that he might be ready to come in. This now throws up a selection dilemma for the team management whether it is time to drop KL Rahul or Sarfaraz Khan to make way for Gill.
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Karun Nair Dropped Despite Scoring Triple Ton: Will The Same Happen With Sarfaraz Khan?
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra pointed in this direction by drawing attention to Karun Nair, who is the other player from India to have got to that score of triple century after Virender Sehwag. Nair, incidentally did that against England in Chennai in 2016 and was dropped from playing XI shortly after that, as he was playing for Ajinkya Rahane, and Rahane was returning, Nair took a rest.
“There is a theory. Karun Nair made 300, but was dropped in the next match. Why? Because he was playing in place of Ajinkya Rahane in that match, and with the latter coming back, Nair fell back in pecking order. A Test career that could have been, might have been…Nair never got that continuity. Going by that theory, Sarfaraz will sit out, but I feel that won’t happen. One more thing is important in Indian cricket – outside noise – and that favours Sarfaraz right now,” Chopra said on JioCinema.
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This precedent can be applied to Sarfaraz as well but Chopra believes that the management of the team is likely to retain him in the playing eleven.
