New Delhi: Sarfaraz Khan demonstrated his ability to perform under foreign conditions, strongly responded after ignoring the tour of Australia and later dropped from the test team for the England series. The right -handed batsman silenced his critics with 92 balls composed off 119 balls for India against Lions of England in the first informal test at St. Lawrence Ground in Cancerbury.His knock consisted of 13 limits and his red ball skill was a timely reminder.Earlier this year, Sarfaraz impressed a Test debut against England in February 2024, scoring two half -centuries. He later hit a Valent 150 against New Zealand in Bengaluru, though in a losing. However, a dip in the form, as he managed to score just 21 runs in his next four innings, excluding him from the playing XI.Despite his initial promises, Sarfaraz did not include any of the five tests during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where India went down 3–1.His lapse continued in the England series, in which the selectors opted for Sai Sudhrasan and Karun Nair instead. The decision increased the eyebrows, given Sarfaraz’s frequent domestic performance.The BCCI, led by Chief Selector Ajit Aggarkar, recently announced an 18-member squad for a five-observer series in England. Shubman Gill has been appointed as the new Test captain of India, named Rishabh Pant as his deputy.
However, Sarfaraz was a notable absent.Asked about the decision to leave Sarfaraz out, Agkar replied:“Sometimes you just have to make good decisions. Sarfaraz, I know that he got 100 in the first Test and then did not get runs. Sometimes it is decided that the team takes the management.He further told about the inclusion of Karun Nair on Sarfaraz:“At this time, Karun has piled up in the domestic, played a little Test cricket, played a little county cricket. Not there, not, not clearly we lack a little experience. We thought his experience could help,” Agkar said.In limited places available in the squad, he said:“We can no longer choose 50 players, so naturally when you have to choose 18 players, some players will disappear.”India’s five-testing series in England closed in Leeds on 20 June.
