Sarfaraz Khan’s exclusion from the India A squad for the upcoming two first-class matches against South Africa A has raised eyebrows across the cricketing circuit. Despite his impressive domestic record and a solid 92-run knock against the England Lions in Canterbury during his last India A appearance, Sarfaraz finds himself out of favor once more.
Reports suggest that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the selectors have cited “batting order complications” because the foremost reason behind his omission.
The 27-year-old batter, who recently recovered from an injury on the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, missed opportunities to prove his form against Australia A earlier this 12 months, which could have further weakened his case.
The Batting Order Dilemma
In response to sources, the selectors are struggling to suit Sarfaraz into the present India A batting structure. His preferred middle-order position, typically at number 5 or 6, is now dominated by players who can contribute each with the bat and ball—essentially the all-rounders and wicketkeeper-batters reminiscent of Rishabh Pant.
With the team composition increasingly emphasizing multi-skilled players, specialists like Sarfaraz face tougher competition for spots. Reports claim that selectors want Sarfaraz to experiment by moving as much as the number three position to make himself more versatile.
Currently, that spot within the India A team is occupied by the in-form Sai Sudharsan, making it even harder for Sarfaraz to interrupt into the lineup. Moreover, his poor run against Latest Zealand A—where he suffered 4 low scores on spin-friendly pitches—has not helped his cause.
Competition and the Road Ahead
The center-order positions in India A are currently crowded with strong contenders reminiscent of Rajat Patidar and Ruturaj Gaikwad, each of whom have showcased consistency in recent first-class matches. Patidar’s strong domestic form and Gaikwad’s adaptability have impressed selectors, pushing Sarfaraz further down the pecking order.
The message from the choice panel seems clear: Sarfaraz must redefine his approach, perform consistently within the upcoming Ranji season, and possibly tackle a top-order role to boost his prospects.
Despite the frustration, Sarfaraz stays certainly one of India’s most prolific red-ball batters on the domestic level. His challenge now lies in proving that he can adapt to the evolving demands of contemporary cricket and claim his long-awaited India call-up.
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