Sarfaraz Khan's exclusion from the Indian Test squad for the upcoming series against England has ignited a wave of criticism and debate within the cricketing fraternity. Despite a strong domestic record and a promising start to his international career, the selectors' decision to overlook him has been met with surprise and disappointment by fans and experts alike.

Sarfaraz made his international debut in February 2024, during the home series against England, where he immediately showcased his talent with half-centuries in both innings of the first Test. He further solidified his position with a remarkable innings of 150 against New Zealand. In the six Test matches he has played, Sarfaraz has scored 371 runs at an average of 37.10.

However, after those promising starts, he wasn't able to maintain consistency in the next few Tests. This dip in form seemed to have influenced the selectors' decision, leading to his omission from the squad for the series against England.

The decision to exclude Sarfaraz is particularly perplexing given his recent form. In a recent intra-squad match, Sarfaraz demonstrated his aggressive batting style by smashing a 76-ball century, including 15 fours and two sixes. Prior to that, he played a solid knock of 92 runs in the first unofficial Test between India A and England Lions. These performances highlight his commitment and determination to prove his worth, even in the face of setbacks.

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has been particularly vocal in his criticism of the selection committee. Chopra questioned the logic of including Sarfaraz in the India A squad but not in the main Test squad. He pointed out that Sarfaraz had not done anything wrong and had, in fact, scored a valuable 92 in the first unofficial Test against England Lions. Chopra argued that if the team management lacked confidence in Sarfaraz's technique, they should not have selected him for India A either.

Adding to the controversy, reports suggest that Sarfaraz had worked hard to prepare for the England series, even losing 10 kgs to improve his fitness. Despite his efforts, the selectors opted to include Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair in the squad, further fueling the debate over the fairness of Sarfaraz's exclusion.

Sarfaraz Khan's journey to the Indian team has been marked by consistent performances in domestic cricket. He holds a record of scoring 439 runs in a Harris Shield tournament match at a young age, breaking Sachin Tendulkar's record. He has represented India in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2014 and 2016. In January 2020, he scored his maiden triple century in first-class cricket. These accomplishments demonstrate his potential and ability to perform at the highest level.

The repeated snubs have led to questions about whether there are factors beyond performance influencing the selection decisions. While it is common for players to face setbacks and competition for places in the team, the consistent overlooking of Sarfaraz, despite his strong domestic record and promising international debut, has raised concerns about fairness and transparency in the selection process. As Sarfaraz continues to prove his mettle on the field, the pressure on the selectors to reconsider his case will only intensify.