He last donned the whites during the NZ series at home.
After failing to break into the playing XI in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), talented batter Sarfaraz Khan is now likely to be ruled out of the five-match England Test series, slated to start from June.
According to a Times Now journalist, it is understood that dynamic middle-order batter Sarafaraz Khan is not on the priority list of the BCCI selectors for the UK tour and can hence face the axe in India’s first assignment in the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
Notably, Sarfaraz last donned the whites during the three-match New Zealand series at home last year where the Men in Blue suffered a historic 3-0 whitewash at home.
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Sarafraz made his debut in the Indian team last year during the home Test series against England. He also came under the spotlight after the BGT tour. The 27-year-old was indirectly alleged by coach Gautam Gambhir of leaking dressing room talks during the BGT to the media.
It was clear that Gambhir’s dissatisfaction with Sarfaraz’s misconduct would have consequences for the latter’s career. And now recent reports of him being excluded from national contention appear to be a direct result of his actions during the Australia tour.
Furthermore, his inability to find a place in the BGT playing XI raises questions over his utility on overseas tours. England is not the ideal setting for untested strategies. Players need thorough preparation to handle the demands of the Dukes ball. Although Sarfaraz Khan possesses undeniable skill, forcing him into such a high-pressure environment like England prematurely could backfire. A more cautious approach, prioritising his development for future tours, could be a wiser roadmap.
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