 "Sarfaraz Khan")
The senior selection committee-headed by Ajit Agarkar announced the 18-man India squad for England Test series on Saturday. While Shubman Gill named India new Test captain, Rishabh Pant will be part of leadership group as vice-captain. However, in the 18-man squad there is a visible omission of player named Sarfaraz Khan. While addressing the media, Agarkar said that he didn't get runs after scoring century. “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. “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. "We can't pick 50 players now, so naturally when you have to pick 18 players, some players will be missing out," Agarkar added further.
Gavaskar on Sarfaraz omission: "You must make yourself undroppable"
Meanwhile reacting on the India squad for England test series legend Sunil Gavaskar acknowledged that leaving out Sarfaraz Khan from India's Test squad was a difficult decision, but he emphasised the importance of seizing every opportunity to secure a place in the team.
Consistency is key to retaining your spot: Gavaskar
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Gavaskar underlined that no performance guarantees long-term selection unless it is backed up by consistent contributions.
“It’s tough, but that’s the nature of the game,” Gavaskar said. “When you get a chance, you must make sure the spot is yours. Even after scoring a hundred, you can’t rest on that. You have to refocus and score again in the next innings. You must not give anyone a reason to replace you.”
Cementing a place requires Relentless effort: Gavaskar
According to the former India captain, the onus is on the player to make himself indispensable.
“It’s entirely up to the individual to cement the position. You must keep knocking on the door—and eventually, break it down,” he added.
Injuries and lack of red-ball opportunities a factor
Gavaskar pointed out that Sarfaraz’s absence from red-ball action after the Australia tour—largely due to injury—made it hard for him to make a fresh case for selection.
“After the tour of Australia, there wasn’t any red-ball cricket. Though the Ranji Trophy was on, he was injured and couldn’t play. So, there was no way to judge his form,” Gavaskar explained.
Fringe players often the first to be dropped: Gavaskar
Drawing from past experiences, Gavaskar remarked that players lower down the pecking order often face the axe when the team doesn’t perform well.
“We’ve seen before that if a team loses a series, it’s usually the 13th, 14th, or 15th players in the squad who get dropped. You must capitalise on every chance to avoid that,” he concluded.
Sarfaraz Khan left out of India squad for England tour despite fitness transformation
27-year-old Sarafaraz, who made his Test debut in 2024, has been one of the most consistent run-scorers in the Indian domestic circuit. However, his opportunities at the international level have remained sporadic.
Despite registering a gritty 150 against New Zealand in Bengaluru, Sarfaraz was dropped from the playing XI during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The talented right-hander, known for his ability to build long innings, has often found himself under the scanner—not for form, but for fitness.
Addressing criticism head-On: A gruelling weight loss journey
Sarfaraz has long been subjected to criticism regarding his weight, even as he consistently piled on runs. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar had publicly defended the young batter, dismissing concerns over his physique. But Sarfaraz, determined to silence detractors, recently undertook a rigorous fitness regimen—shedding nearly 10 kilograms in under two months.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Sarfaraz’s father and coach, Naushad Khan, detailed the batter’s dietary overhaul. “We cut out roti, rice, sugar, maida, and all bakery products. Our meals now consist of green salads, grilled fish, chicken, boiled eggs, and green tea,” he explained. Naushad also revealed that Sarfaraz had even given up his beloved biryani as part of the transformation.
The commitment to fitness wasn’t limited to Sarfaraz alone. Naushad himself lost 12 kgs after being advised to do so for a knee condition. “It became a family mission,” he said.
Grinding for redemption in the A squad
Although dropped from the senior squad, Sarfaraz remains part of the India A squad for the upcoming two-match series against the England Lions, starting May 30. The opportunity could be pivotal in reviving his Test ambitions, especially with two middle-order spots vacant after the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Sarfaraz has featured in six Tests, amassing 371 runs at an average of 37.10. He is currently spending hours at the nets, reportedly facing between 300 to 500 deliveries a day, in a bid to make a strong case for selection. With the No. 4 spot likely going to Shubman Gill, Sarfaraz is still seen as a potential candidate for a place in India’s revamped middle order.
| Sarfaraz Khan’s batting career summary | ||||||||||||
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Ball faced | Highest score | Average | Strike rate | Not out | 4s | 6s | 50s | 100 |
| Test | 6 | 11 | 371 | 495 | 150 | 37.1 | 74.95 | 1 | 44 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| IPL | 50 | 37 | 585 | 448 | 67 | 22.5 | 130.59 | 11 | 63 | 14 | 1 | 0 |
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