Sunil Gavaskar slammed the BCCI selection committee for including Sarfaraz Khan in India’s squad for the West Indies Tests.
Sarfaraz Khan is only second to Don Bradman in the history of first-class cricketers with more than 2000 runs. His Ranji Trophy average of 82 places him just behind Vijay Merchant (98.35) and Sachin Tendulkar (87.37). He is also the first player to score more than 900 runs in two consecutive Ranji seasons.
The 25-year-old right-handed hitter has 928 runs scored at an average of 154 in the 2019-20 season, the second-highest in tournament history. In the 2021-22 Ranji season, he scored 982 runs at an average of 122.75, including four hundreds. Sarfaraz earned 556 runs in six games at an average of 92.66 in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy, thanks to three hundreds. Sarfaraz has scored 3,505 runs at an average of 79.65 in 37 first-class matches, including 13 centuries.
Despite these mind-boggling stats, Sarfaraz has yet to receive a Test call-up, which is amazing. Despite amassing runs in first-class cricket for pleasure over the previous three seasons, the Mumbai right-hander has been overlooked by the selectors on several occasions. The most recent was for the West Indian series. Sarfaraz did not make India’s 16-man team for the two-match series in the Caribbean islands, which begins on July 12.
Ruturaj Giakwad and Yashavi Jaiswal, both young players, made the Test squad. Sunil Gavaskar questioned the logic of having the Ranji Trophy if success in the country’s main domestic event is not taken into account when selecting the Indian red-ball teams instead of using the players’ record in the IPL.
“In the last three seasons, Sarfaraz Khan has averaged 100 points a game. What must he accomplish to be selected for the squad? “He might not be in the XI, but you pick him in the team,” Gavaskar told Sports Today of the Mumbai batter.
“Inform him that his efforts are being recognised.” Otherwise, quit participating in the Ranji Trophy. Say, it’s pointless, you just play IPL and believe you’re good enough for red-ball.”
The selection of four openers in the lineup also irritated the renowned Indian player. Captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are set to begin the batting, with Gaikwad and Jaiswal serving as backups. Because Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped, one of Gaikwad or Jaiswal might make their Test debut at No.3.
“You have four opening batters for two Tests.” This is unlike the traditional West Indies fast-bowling assault where six openers were required.
