Did Sarfaraz Khan deserve a spot in India A squad? What his recent records suggest
Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant walk off the field as rain stops play during the fourth day of the first Test match between India and New Zealand at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru | PTI
The return of fit-again wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant was confirmed earlier today, as he was appointed captain of the India A side for a red-ball series against South Africa A.
Pant sustained a foot fracture while batting against England in the fourth Test at Manchester in July, which forced him to skip the Asia Cup and the recent two-Test home series against the West Indies. The 28-year-old has been named for both the matches, to be played in Bengaluru from October 30, and it will give Pant valuable game time ahead of the two-match home Test series against South Africa beginning November 14 in Kolkata.
But, the glaring omission of batter Sarfaraz Khan from the team that has a mix of experience and youth – with KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj set to play alongside Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, Devdutt Padikkal and Prasidh Krishna – has sparked off yet another debate on social media. Several netizens questioned the continued side-lining of the 27-year-old from Mumbai.
How has Sarfaraz Khan performed in Tests since 2024?
Khan made his international Test debut against England in the third match in February last year. He scored 62 and 68* in the Rajkot match, becoming only the fourth Indian to score two fifties on Test debut. He made another half-century (56) in the fifth Test in Dharmasala.
He followed it up with a maiden Test century (150) in the second innings of the first match against New Zealand in Bengaluru. But a string of poor scores in the next two matches in Pune and Mumbai saw him being dropped from the national side.
How did Sarfaraz Khan perform in first-class cricket since 2024?
Khan was part of the India B squad in Duleep Trophy last year, scoring 71 runs in three innings.
Then came the double century for Mumbai in the Irani Trophy against Rest of India. In fact, he became Mumbai's first-ever double-centurion in the tournament’s history.
He was also part of the India A team, scoring 92 against England Lions.
Khan also scored a ton in the Buchi Babu Trophy, thus driving home the point made by netizens that he has been among the runs recently.
Meanwhile, the South African A team will be captained by batter Marques Ackerman, with senior team captain Temba Bavuma, who would be returning from a calf injury. They will also play three ODIs against India A in Rajkot from November 13 to 19.
India A squad for the first four-day match:
Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), Ayush Mhatre, N Jagdeesan (WK), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Anshul Kamboj, Yash Thakur, Ayush Badoni, Saransh Jain.
India A squad for the 2nd four-day match:
Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.
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