Sarfaraz Khan’s Omission from India’s Test Squad for England Tour Sparks Debate: Justified Or Unfair?
The BCCI has announced India’s 18-member Test squad for the much-anticipated tour of England — and it comes with big news and big omissions. While Shubman Gill has been appointed as the new Test captain, one name missing from the list has taken fans by surprise: Sarfaraz Khan.
Sarfaraz Khan Dropped Without a Real Opportunity?
Sarfaraz, who made his long-awaited Test debut earlier this year against England, was expected to be retained after a decent, albeit brief, start to his red-ball international career. His exclusion has raised eyebrows, especially considering he’s had limited chances to prove himself — and didn’t necessarily fail when he did.
Here’s how he’s fared so far in Test cricket:
| Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100/50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 11 | 371 | 37.10 | 74.94 | 1/3 |
After scoring twin fifties on debut and a fine 150 against New Zealand, two underwhelming performances towards the end of the Kiwi series seemed to cost him dearly. He didn’t get a game in Australia, where even Devdutt Padikkal — not initially in the squad — was given a chance ahead of him.
This hints at a lack of confidence in his ability to succeed outside subcontinental conditions, a sentiment that appears to have heavily influenced the selectors’ decision for the England tour.
A Perception Problem?
Critics argue that Sarfaraz’s aggressive style doesn’t suit tough SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) pitches. But the 26-year-old has repeatedly proved his mettle in domestic cricket, piling up runs season after season.
Sarfaraz Khan’s First-Class Record:
| Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100/50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | 82 | 4593 | 65.61 | 70.73 | 16/14 |
An average of 65.61 in first-class cricket — the best among all selected Indian batters — speaks volumes about his consistency and temperament.
Comparison of First-Class Averages (Selected Batters vs Sarfaraz)
| Player | First-Class Average |
|---|---|
| Sarfaraz Khan | 65.61 |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 60.81 |
| Shubman Gill | 47.28 |
| KL Rahul | 42.62 |
| Karun Nair | 49.16 |
| Sai Sudharsan | 39.93 |
| Abhimanyu Easwaran | 48.87 |
| Rishabh Pant | 45.66 |
| Dhruv Jurel | 45.74 |
Sarfaraz’s omission, despite being statistically superior, suggests that the selectors may be leaning more on perception and gut feel than hard data.
Was There Room for Sarfaraz Khan?
Karun Nair’s return is well-deserved — he’s had an excellent domestic run and county stint. However, with four openers already in the squad (Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Easwaran, Sai Sudharsan), was there really a need to carry so many?
A middle-order specialist like Sarfaraz could have been slotted in by trimming one of the opening options — a more balanced approach, especially with someone like Gill himself capable of opening.
Moreover, Sarfaraz showed his hunger recently with an unbeaten double century in the Irani Trophy, proving he’s still in top form.
Conclusion: Time to Let the Bat Talk Again
Sarfaraz Khan’s omission from the Test squad for the England series reflects a deeper issue in Indian selection policies — the tendency to let perception outweigh performance. Despite his numbers and promise, a couple of poor outings in unfamiliar conditions seem to have tilted the balance against him.
But all is not lost. Sarfaraz has been named in the India A squad for the England tour, and this might just be his golden chance. Ten kilos lighter and mentally sharper, he now needs to break the “can’t play in SENA” myth with consistent performances in conditions perceived as his weakness.
For now, Sarfaraz Khan must do what he does best — score runs. And if he does that, the doors to the Indian Test XI may once again swing open — this time, hopefully, for good.
