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Sarfaraz Khan has played six Test matches for India in 2024, but he was ignored for a place in the India A team on October 21 for two four-day matches against South Africa A.
Mumbai captain Shardul Thakur backs Sarfaraz Khan to make Test comeback (Picture Credit: Sportzpics)
Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan, who played six Test matches for India in 2024 and even scored one century in the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand last year, was ignored for a place in India A’s squad for the upcoming two four-day matches against the South Africa A team. The BCCI’s decision to ignore Sarfaraz, who has a batting average of more than 65 in first-class cricket, baffled many former greats of the game. They quizzed the logic behind keeping Sarfaraz out of the squad.
Amid the controversy over Sarfaraz’s non-selection for the India A series, Mumbai Ranji captain Shardul Thakur has backed him to make a Test comeback for India by scoring big runs in domestic cricket.
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai on Friday (October 24), ahead of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy match against Chhattisgarh at Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy BKC in Mumbai, Shardul said Sarfaraz doesn’t need an India A game to play international cricket.
“Nowadays, for the India A side, they look at boys who they want to prepare for international cricket,” Mumbai said.
“Sarfaraz doesn’t need India A game to play international cricket. If he gets back to scoring again, he can straight away go and play the Test series also,” he added.
“He is coming from an injury lay-off. But before that, he scored two or three centuries in the Buchi Babu Trophy before getting injured.
“Coming back against J&K in the previous match, he had a nice 40 (42). It was very unfortunate to have been run out. But for him, I don’t think playing for India A is important,” Thakur said.
Thakur expressed confidence that Sarfaraz will be able to come good in coming games as Mumbai look to build on their strong start.
“He is a senior pro, and whenever we put him in there in the 22 yards, he is someone who always delivers in crunch situations,” Thakur said.
“He has big scores of 200-250, and those innings have come when the team was two or three down quite early in the innings. To play that kind of innings under pressure, you have to have something special in you.”
“He is one of the special players who never disappoints to perform and put up big scores. He has done it for years and years. Regardless of which number he bats, I think he will deliver,” Thakur added.
October 24, 2025, 18:44 IST
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