Mumbai captain Shardul Thakur firmly stated that Sarfaraz Khan doesn’t require playing for India A to make his mark in international cricket. He believes Sarfaraz can earn a spot in the national Test side purely through stellar domestic performances.
Sarfaraz, at 28, debuted in Test cricket against England in Rajkot in 2024 and last played for India in the home series against New Zealand, where he notably scored a century. His recent exclusion from the India A first-class series against South Africa A ignited significant controversy and public discussion across social media platforms.
Thakur elaborated on his stance, explaining that the India A squad typically focuses on developing players for future international roles. However, he argued that Sarfaraz is beyond that stage. “Sarfaraz doesn’t need an India A game to play international cricket. If he returns to his scoring ways, he can directly step into a Test series,” Thakur asserted.
The Mumbai all-rounder further emphasized Sarfaraz’s remarkable domestic form and his proven ability to deliver under pressure. “He’s just returning from an injury layoff. But even before that, he had already notched up two or three centuries in the Buchi Babu Trophy before his injury. While it was unfortunate he got run out, I genuinely don’t believe playing for India A is crucial for him at this point.”
Thakur reiterated that Sarfaraz is a seasoned batter, consistently proving his mettle in high-pressure scenarios. “He has consistently made huge scores, often reaching 200 or 250 runs, with many of these match-winning innings coming when the team was in a precarious position, two or three wickets down early on. To produce such performances under immense pressure truly speaks volumes about his exceptional talent,” Thakur remarked.
Sarfaraz boasts an extraordinary domestic cricket record, accumulating 2,541 runs over the last five years at an astounding average of 110.47, including ten centuries and five half-centuries. In his brief six-Test career, he has scored 371 runs, maintaining an average close to 40. His most recent outing for India A saw him score 92 runs against the England Lions in Canterbury.
Meanwhile, Mumbai kicked off their Ranji Trophy journey with a historic first victory against Jammu and Kashmir. Their next challenge will be against Chhattisgarh at the BKC Ground. Other matches in Group D include Rajasthan versus Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi taking on Himachal Pradesh, and Puducherry playing host to Hyderabad.
Sarfaraz’s exclusion from the India A squad also sparked considerable debate on social media. Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed raised questions about the decision, suggesting a potential link to religious bias. In response, BJP’s Shehzad Poonawalla strongly condemned these remarks, highlighting the inclusion of several other Muslim players in the squad as counter-evidence.