India vs Australia: Many fans, experts and former greats were surprised when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) didn't name 25-year-old Sarfaraz Khan, leading run-getter in 2021-22 Ranji Trophy season, in the Indian squad for first two Tests against Australia, starting next month.
The Mumbai batter is in terrific form and has been scoring runs in the domestic circuit for the last couple of seasons but somehow he still hasn't earned a maiden call-up for the Test team.
Fans and experts criticised the apex board for Sarfaraz Khan's snub from India vs Australia Test series.
Sridharan Sharath, who joined the Chetan Sharma-led men's cricket team selection committee earlier this month, broke his silence on the matter.
"He is certainly on our radar. In due course, he will get his due. While picking the team, we have to consider things like composition and balance," Sharath told Sportstar.
Sarfaraz is a middle-order batter and his inclusion in the Test team is a bit problematic with some big names like Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Shreyas Iyer already in command of the middle-order.
Suryakumar Yadav has been named in the Indian Test team for first time in his career. He might get a game in the India-Australia Test series.
Speaking about Surya’s inclusion in the Test team, Sharath said, "Suryakumar Yadav too can take the game quickly away from the opposition. He has different shots to unsettle an attack. Don’t forget he has over 5,000 first-class runs."
BCCI has not yet announced the squad for the last two Tests between India and Australia and with the kind of runs Safaraz has piled up in domestic cricket in recent years, it won't be a surprise if his name is there on that list.
In an interview with Indian Express, Sarfaraz had admitted he was 'completely down' when he heard the news of not being picked in India's Test squad for Australia matches.
"I was down completely. It's natural for anyone, especially once you have scored so many runs. I'm also human, not a machine. I too have emotions. I spoke to my father and he came to Delhi. I just had a practice session in Delhi with him. I have been getting messages and hearing that I should have been there. My father came and said our job is to score runs and he feels a day will come when I will play for India. So we need to keep that belief and let destiny decide the rest," he added.