In a surprising move that’s gotten people talking, Sarfaraz Khan will not be part of India’s 18-member squad for the upcoming five-Test series in England. The senior selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, announced the news during a press conference on Saturday, where Shubman Gill was revealed as the new Test captain, with Rishabh Pant as his deputy. While a lot of attention was on the leadership changes after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired, Sarfaraz’s absence caught people’s eye.
At 27, he’s been one of the top scorers in India’s domestic cricket and has worked hard on his fitness, but it wasn’t enough to earn him a spot on the team. Sarfaraz made his Test debut in 2024 and scored a tough 150 against New Zealand in Bengaluru, but he hasn’t had many chances to play at the international level since then. Even after a strong performance, he was left out of the squad during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
He made an effort to get fit for the demands of modern cricket, but it seems his hard work didn’t persuade the selectors for this trip to England. Ajit Agarkar addressed the media and mentioned that sometimes tough choices have to be made. He spoke about Sarfaraz’s performance, noting he scored in his first Test but struggled afterward. He pointed out that Karun Nair has been racking up runs in domestic cricket and has played some Test matches and county cricket, making him a valuable choice, especially with Virat’s absence.
Karun Nair’s return has been impressive. After not playing a Test since 2017, he made a comeback during the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, scoring 863 runs at an average of 53.93 and contributing significantly to Vidarbha’s title win. He also had a good run in England’s County Championship in 2024, scoring 487 runs at an average of 48.70, including two centuries. His recent form shows he’s ready to take on the challenges of a long series in England.
