The ongoing saga of Sarfaraz Khan's repeated snubs by Indian selectors has sparked widespread debate and drawn support for the Mumbai batsman, with voices from teammates to political figures weighing in on the situation. The talented middle-order batsman, despite consistent domestic performances, finds himself out of favor, most recently being omitted from the India A squad for the series against South Africa A.
Sarfaraz's recent form in the Ranji Trophy has been a concern, with scores of 42, 32, 1, 15, and 5 not out in three matches. This dip in form has coincided with his non-selection, leading to questions about the mental toll the repeated snubs are taking on the player.
However, Sarfaraz's Mumbai teammate, Siddhesh Lad, has publicly backed him, emphasizing the importance of support during tough times. "At the end, he is a human being and everyone makes some mistakes," Lad stated, acknowledging the pressure Sarfaraz is under. "There is always that (rough) patch for big players... Somewhere, it could be demotivating as a player but at this time, it is up to us as a team and support staff as to how do we lift him up? We know his potential and if he plays (well), he will play big innings. As a team, we will try to lift his confidence in any way we can".
Shardul Thakur, another of Sarfaraz's Mumbai teammates and captain, believes that Sarfaraz doesn't need India A exposure to earn a place in the Test side. Thakur asserted that strong performances in domestic cricket should be enough for a player of Sarfaraz's caliber. "Sarfaraz doesn't need India A game to play international cricket. If he gets back to scoring again, he can straightaway go and play Test series also," Thakur said.
R Ashwin has also expressed his shock and disappointment at Sarfaraz's continued exclusion. "I can't find any logic behind Sarfaraz's non-selection in the India A side. I feel very, very sad for him," Ashwin stated. He further questioned what selectors would tell Sarfaraz, considering his weight loss, consistent run-scoring, and a century against New Zealand.
The debate surrounding Sarfaraz's non-selection has even taken a political turn. Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed alleged religious bias in the selection process, a claim that was strongly criticized by BJP's Shehzad Poonawalla, who pointed out the inclusion of other Muslim players in the squad.
Despite the controversies and setbacks, Sarfaraz Khan's domestic record remains impressive. He has scored 4780 runs in 58 first-class matches at an average of 63.73, including 16 centuries and 15 half-centuries. He has played six Tests, scoring 371 runs with a century and three fifties.
Sarfaraz's journey has been one of resilience and determination. He underwent a significant fitness transformation, shedding weight and improving his physical conditioning. However, despite these efforts and his consistent performances over the years, a regular place in the Indian team continues to elude him.
As Mumbai aims for the top spot in the Ranji Trophy, the spotlight is on Sarfaraz Khan. The team and its supporters are hoping that he can rediscover his form and silence his critics with a string of big scores. The message is clear: Sarfaraz is a human being, and everyone makes mistakes; it is now up to his team and supporters to lift him up and help him regain his confidence.
