The announcement of India’s 18-member Test squad for the upcoming five-match series against England in June 2025 sparked widespread discussion, with one of the most talked-about omissions being Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan.
Despite showing promise and scoring a century on debut, Sarfaraz was left out of the squad, raising questions among fans and experts alike.
Check the reasons behind Sarfaraz Khan’s exclusion from the India Test team.
Lack of Consistency After Initial Success
Sarfaraz Khan made his Test debut against England in February 2024 and impressed with a sparkling 150-run innings against New Zealand in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
However, following that century, he failed to capitalize on his opportunities and struggled to score runs consistently.
Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector, candidly explained that while Sarfaraz had a great start, he “didn’t get runs” afterward, which influenced the decision to drop him from the squad.
Agarkar said, “Sometimes you just have to make good decisions. Sarfaraz got a 100 in the first Test and then didn’t get runs. These are decisions the team management takes in the best interest of the team.” He further emphasized that with limited spots available, consistency is paramount to securing a place in the playing XI.
Fitness and Injury Concerns
Sarfaraz’s journey has been hampered by fitness issues and injuries, which affected his ability to showcase form in domestic red-ball cricket.
Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar highlighted that after the Australia tour, Sarfaraz did not get much red-ball cricket due to injury, making it difficult for him to prove his readiness.
Gavaskar remarked, “After the tour of Australia, there was no red-ball cricket, and Sarfaraz was injured. So, he didn’t play and couldn’t show his form.” He added that players must be “undroppable” by consistently performing and not giving others a chance to replace them.
Suitability for English Conditions
India’s batting great Cheteshwar Pujara weighed in on the exclusion, suggesting that the team management felt Sarfaraz’s strengths lay predominantly in Asian conditions, and there were doubts about his ability to succeed in England’s swinging and seaming conditions.
Pujara said, “The management feels that he may not be as successful in Australia or England. He has been very successful in Asian conditions or in India, but the English conditions are a different challenge.” This perception likely influenced the selectors’ preference for players with more experience or perceived suitability for England.
Preference for Experience: Karun Nair’s Inclusion
With the retirement of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the selectors prioritized experience in the middle order.
Karun Nair, who made a comeback after seven years and has a track record of domestic and county cricket performances, was chosen over Sarfaraz to fill this role.
Agarkar explained, “Karun has scored heaps of runs in domestic cricket, played a bit of Test cricket, and county cricket. With Virat not there, we are lacking a bit of experience. We felt his experience could help.” This strategic choice was aimed at providing stability and guidance to a relatively young batting lineup.
