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Sarfaraz Khan Dropped! Agarkar Opens Up On Omission As Karun Nair Earns Test Recall

Sakshi Sharma

Sarfaraz Khan and Karun Nair (Source:@mufaddal_vohra,x.com)Sarfaraz Khan and Karun Nair (Source:@mufaddal_vohra,x.com)

In a significant decision that has sparked debate, Sarfaraz Khan has been left out of India’s 18-member squad for the upcoming five-Test series in England. The announcement was made by the senior selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, during a press conference on Saturday, where Shubman Gill was named the new Test captain and Rishabh Pant his deputy.

While the focus was largely on the leadership overhaul following Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s retirements from the format, Sarfaraz’s omission did not go unnoticed. Despite being one of the most prolific run-getters in India’s domestic circuit and showing a renewed commitment to fitness, the 27-year-old failed to find a place in the touring party.

Did BCCI Overlook Sarfraz Khan?

Sarfaraz Khan made his Test debut in 2024 and notched up a gritty 150 against New Zealand in Bengaluru. However he has seen limited opportunities at the international level after that. He was subsequently dropped during the BGT despite his strong performance. 

It is important to mention that Sarfaraz underwent a visible fitness transformation in a bid to align with the demands of modern cricket. However, it appears that his efforts were not enough to convince the selectors for the England tour.

Addressing the media, chief selector Ajit Agarkar chose his words carefully while responding to questions about players who missed out.

"Sometimes you just have to make good decisions. Sarfaraz, I know he got a 100 in the first Test and then didn't get runs. Sometimes it's decisions the team management takes. At the moment, Karun has scored heaps of runs in domestic, has played a bit of Test cricket, played a bit of county cricket. With Virat not there, clearly we're lacking a bit of experience. We felt his experience could help. "

Karun Nair’s Resurgence

Karun Nair’s return to form has been nothing short of remarkable. Having last played a Test for India in 2017, Nair reignited his red-ball career with a stellar 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, where he scored 863 runs at an average of 53.93 and played a crucial role in Vidarbha’s title-winning campaign.

He further solidified his case with a strong showing in England’s County Championship in 2024, scoring 487 runs at 48.70, including two centuries. His performances suggest a player ready for the demands of a long and testing series in English conditions.