As India gears up for a two-match Test series against West Indies at home, the spotlight is, once again, not just on the players selected – but also on the one who isn’t.
On Thursday (September 25, 2025), the BCCI announced a 15-member squad for the series, with Shubman Gill set to captain the side and Ravindra Jadeja named vice-captain. While the squad includes several exciting names, one glaring omission has stirred fans and sparked debate – Sarfaraz Khan is not on the list. Again.
A Story That Won’t Go Away
This isn’t the first time Sarfaraz, 27, has been left out despite his exceptional domestic record. With a First-Class average north of 70 and a string of consistent performances in the Ranji Trophy, his exclusion from the England Test series earlier this year had already raised eyebrows.
What stings more for fans is that Rishabh Pant remains unavailable due to injury, potentially opening a middle-order spot – one that many felt Sarfaraz had earned with sweat and sheer numbers.
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Injury or Injustice?
At the squad announcement presser, Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar addressed the growing concern, citing a quadriceps injury as the reason for Sarfaraz’s exclusion. He stated that the batter is currently undergoing rehab at the Centre of Excellence (CoE).
But within 24 hours, Sarfaraz posted a video on Instagram – a move that only added fuel to the fire.
In the clip, he’s seen sprinting, performing agility drills, and executing mobility exercises – all with visible ease and intensity. No limps, no signs of discomfort. Just a focused cricketer in peak fitness mode. Naturally, fans were left wondering: Is he really injured? Or has the goalpost shifted again?
The 45-Day Transformation That Turned Heads
Sarfaraz had been at the center of the “fitness vs form” debate for years. Labelled too bulky for international standards, the narrative often revolved around weight, not weight of runs. But the Mumbai batter decided to change the conversation.
In a remarkable 45-day transformation this past June and July, Sarfaraz lost 17 kilos through disciplined training and a strict diet. Recent shirtless photos of him went viral, showing a toned, athletic frame that silenced critics and impressed former players.
It seemed, finally, that every box was ticked – runs, form, fitness, hunger. And yet, the door remained closed.
A Selection Dilemma, or Something More?
With the India vs West Indies Test series set to begin, the attention should rightly be on Gill’s first Test assignment as captain and how this transitional team shapes up. But Sarfaraz Khan’s exclusion looms large, not just as a selection call, but as a symbol of a wider issue: What more must a domestic player do to earn a Test cap?
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