On Friday, BCCI announced the squad for the first two Test of the 4-match series India Test series against Australia. While Rohit Sharma will lead the men in blue, KL Rahul is named as the vice-captain. The young opener, Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan who have performed brilliantly in the domestic game have failed to make a cut. On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja who has been out due to injury will be making a comeback.
The Indian fans were not happy after Sarfaraz Khan wasn’t picked for the Test series against Australia scheduled to be commencing on February 9. Sarfaraz has been the most consistent run-scorer in India’s domestic cricket and has been banging on the selection doors for quite some time. However, the national selectors have continued ignoring him.
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In the 2021-22 edition of the Ranji Trophy where Mumbai finished as the runner-up, Sarfaraz amassed as many as 982 runs at an average of 122.75 with four centuries, two fifties, and a top score of 275 to show for his efforts. Even in the ongoing edition of the first-class tournament, Sarfaraz has notched 431 runs at an average of 107.75 and a strike rate of 70.54 with two centuries, one half-century, and a top score of 162.
In 36 first-class matches since his debut back in 2014, the 25-year-old has notched 3380 runs at an average of 80.47 with 12 centuries and nine fifties.
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India preferred Suryakumar Yadav, who has been in brilliant form in T20Is, for the Australia Tests. He also played a couple of matches for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. Ishan Kishan, who hit his maiden ODI double ton last month, also earned his maiden Test call-up.
India’s squad for first 2 Tests vs Australia:
Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (vc), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Mohammad Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav
India’s squad for first 2 Tests vs Australia:
Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (vc), Shubman Gill, C Pujara, V Kohli, S Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav— BCCI (@BCCI) January 13, 2023
The fans, in the meantime, slammed the BCCI for giving Sarfaraz a Test call-up for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Very hard on Sarfaraz Khan who has literally broken the door down in first class cricket. You can't do more than he has.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 13, 2023
Spare a thought for Sarfaraz khan. I don’t understand what else he needs to do to get into the test team #DoddaMathu #CricketTwitter #INDvAUS
— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) January 13, 2023
As much as I love Suryakumar Yadav, his selection in the Test squad over Sarfaraz Khan leaves a sour taste. Make no mistake, Surya in whites is a super batter but Sarfaraz with that sort of record in Ranji Trophy deserved a call-up. #INDvAUS
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) January 13, 2023
Ishan Kishan and SKY in squad,fair to say that Ranji performances have started to hold less value and public opinion has started to hold more sway.
Ishan still understandable but SKY selection is baffling and won't sent good signal to guys like Sarfaraz and Hanuma. https://t.co/q9W7Pk0tiV
— Akash Kumar Jha (@Akashkumarjha14) January 13, 2023
Sarfaraz Khan must be devasted! When will he get rewarded for his performances? A player who’s scoring tons every now and then and still doesn’t get picked while almost everyone else finds a place is something really tough to take!
— Mohsin Kamal (@64MohsinKamal) January 13, 2023
Sarfaraz a victim of not having social media fan following like sanju. Poor guy has done more than enough to be in the squad. such a shame he is not included. #sarfarazkhan
— Deepak Gupta (@DeepalGupta11) January 14, 2023
Selecting Suryakumar Yadav ahead of Sarfaraz Khan in Tests is an insult to Ranji Trophy. That guy has been one of the most consistent run-getters in First Class cricket and deserved that call-up more than anyone.
Baffling selection by this committee, yet again.
— Shivani Shukla (@iShivani_Shukla) January 13, 2023
Sarfaraz Khan ko kaha aur kitne runs aur banaane honge? Unfair to not reward the best performer in domestic cricket worldwide.#TeamIndia #SportsYaari
— Manoj Dimri (@manoj_dimri) January 13, 2023
Selecting Suryakumar Yadav ahead of Sarfaraz Khan in Tests is an insult to Ranji Trophy. That guy has been one of the most consistent run-getters in First Class cricket and deserved that call-up more than anyone.
Baffling selection by this committee, yet again.
— Shivani Shukla (@iShivani_Shukla) January 13, 2023
