Talented Youngster in India to Be Replaced by KL Rahul in Playing XI for Bangladesh Test
Sarfaraz Khan got his long-awaited Test debut against England at home earlier this year. He lived up to the promise by hitting 200 runs in five innings, including three half-centuries, while averaging 50 and scoring at a 79.36 strikeout rate. While Sarfaraz’s Test call-up and subsequent debut were well-deserved, it came at a time when India was missing a few first-choice players in Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant, which might lead to Sarfaraz losing his status in the starting XI.
This will also be true for the forthcoming Bangladesh Test series, which begins on September 19. Though Sarfaraz has retained his place in Rohit Sharma’s side, he is unlikely to play in the first Test in Chennai, with first-choice talents Kohli, Rahul, and Pant expected to return.
The fact that the 26-year-old has been nominated to India’s B squad for the Duleep Trophy second round fixtures almost confirms his absence from the starting XI for the first Test against Bangladesh. The second-round matches are scheduled to end on September 15, three days before the series begins. Apart from Sarfaraz and Yash Dayal, the other Indian Test players who played in the first round of the Duleep Trophy
Kris Srikkanth, a former India opener and member of the 1983 ODI World Cup-winning team, says he feels for Sarfaraz, but it’s something that occurs in cricket, citing the example of Dhruv Jurel, who would have to sit out now that a fit-again Pant is available.
“I feel bad for Sarfaraz Khan; even if you play well, sometimes a big player comes in after an injury and you lose your place – see Rishabh Pant comes in and Jurel has to leave,” Srikkanth stated on his YouTube channel while speaking to his son Anirudha, who played for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.
Srikkanth revealed why India will choose Rahul for the forthcoming series, which includes a tour of Australia. “In the end, KL Rahul is the man—Rolls Royce has done very well in Australia—but you should also keep the Australia series in the back of your mind because the New Zealand series is coming up,” he remarked.
He went on, “KL Rahul bowls hard, KL Rahul bowls great, you have no one else – Classy Rolls Royce Rahul.”
“I think KL Rahul has played quality Test innings in South Africa and Australia,” Anirudh said, expressing agreement with Kris. And I think that Rahul’s form will be key building up to the Australia visit, which will undoubtedly be one of the greatest Test series in history.
