SRINAGAR: Despite a prolific record in domestic and international cricket, Sarfaraz Khan has once again been overlooked in team selections, missing out on a place in the India A squad set to play South Africa A in India. The senior selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, named a 15-member squad on Tuesday, leaving the 26-year-old batsman out for reasons that remain unclear.
Over the last five years, Sarfaraz has averaged 110.47 in first-class cricket, scoring 2,541 runs, including 10 hundreds and five fifties. He also impressed in recent international outings, scoring three fifties against England and a century against New Zealand in India’s 0-3 Test series loss. Despite these performances, whispers about his fitness, ability to perform internationally, and overseas adaptability have dogged him. He has since lost 17kg and recovered fully from past injuries.
Sarfaraz also excelled in preparatory matches ahead of India’s England tour. He scored 92 against England Lions in Canterbury and an unbeaten 102 in an intra-squad game, facing top Indian bowlers including Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep. Yet the panel chose Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan for the England Tests, citing their domestic form and prior overseas experience.
Speaking on Sarfaraz’s omission, Agarkar as per Cricbuzz said, “Sometimes, you just have to make good decisions. Karun has scored heaps of runs in domestic cricket, played a bit of Test cricket and county cricket. With Virat not there, we felt his experience could help. We can’t pick 50 players, so naturally some players will be missing out.”
Critics argue that Sarfaraz continues to face shifting benchmarks for selection, with his talent often overshadowed by speculation rather than performance. He last represented India in the three-Test series against New Zealand at home last November, finishing as the third-highest run-scorer with 171 runs, behind Rishabh Pant (261) and Yashavi Jaiswal (190).
Meanwhile, president of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Asaduddin Owaisi criticised the move from selection committee. In a post on X, he wrote in a reply to news story, ” why isn’t Sarfaraz Khan selected even for India-A”.
Why isn’t Sarfaraz Khan selected even for India A? https://t.co/WZQbZjhtrq via @IndianExpress
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) October 21, 2025
Despite consistent domestic form and proven international capability, Sarfaraz Khan remains on the periphery of Indian cricket, raising questions over selection transparency and meritocracy in the national setup.
