Sarfaraz Khan’s Runs Put Pressure on Gambhir and Agarkar
PTI
At 28, Sarfaraz Khan has stopped waiting for sympathy and started forcing answers. With a flood of runs across domestic formats, the Mumbai batter has once again put himself at the centre of India’s selection debate. As performances pile up, questions are being raised about how long head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar can afford to overlook him.
Sarfaraz’s journey has rarely been smooth. Despite being a prolific scorer in the Ranji Trophy since his debut in 2014, he had to wait nearly a decade for his first Test call-up. Even then, his debut came as a replacement rather than a first-choice pick.
Sarfaraz made his Test debut against England in 2024 after Shreyas Iyer’s injury. The focus, however, quickly shifted from his batting to his fitness. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar repeatedly defended him, stating that cricket is about being game-fit, not meeting cosmetic standards.
In Bengaluru, Sarfaraz answered critics with a gritty 150 against New Zealand, showcasing his ability against both pace and spin on a challenging surface. Yet, a couple of failures on spinning tracks in Pune and Mumbai saw him dropped, even though other senior batters struggled under similar conditions.
After a quiet Ranji phase earlier in 2025, Sarfaraz rediscovered his rhythm in white-ball cricket. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he scored 329 runs in seven matches at a staggering strike rate of over 200, earning an IPL contract with Chennai Super Kings.
He has carried that momentum into the Vijay Hazare Trophy, smashing records along the way. His 15-ball half-century against Punjab became the fastest by an Indian in List-A cricket. He currently leads Mumbai’s run charts with 303 runs in six innings, averaging over 75.
What makes Sarfaraz’s case stand out is that he was always viewed as a red-ball specialist. Now, with explosive white-ball performances added to his resume, the argument for exclusion appears increasingly thin. While the selection committee has experimented with several players across formats, Sarfaraz remains on the sidelines.
With India navigating a difficult phase in Test cricket, consistent performers knocking on the door cannot be ignored indefinitely. Sarfaraz has done all that can be asked — runs, adaptability, fitness improvements, and temperament.
Our Thoughts
If Sarfaraz Khan’s current form does not translate into a sustained run in the national side, it will reflect more on the system than the player. History suggests that such talents eventually find their place — but Indian cricket must decide how long it wants to wait.