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"This Needs To Go": Former Domestic Giant Rages Over Sarfaraz Khan’s Test Rejection

Kaushik Kashyap

Sarfaraz Khan. [Source - JeetN25/x.com]Sarfaraz Khan. [Source - JeetN25/x.com]

Former Gujarat opener and India A captain Priyank Panchal has voiced his disappointment over the ongoing perception that domestic cricket performers are not up to international standards. His remarks came shortly after Sarfaraz Khan’s impressive 92-run knock for India A in the first unofficial Test against England Lions in Canterbury.

Panchal, who recently announced his retirement from first-class cricket, has been a consistent top-order batter in the Indian domestic circuit for years and led India A on multiple occasions. On Friday, Panchal took to X (formerly twitter) to highlight the continued sidelining of players like Sarfaraz despite their consistent performances.

“This stigma around solid domestic performers not being up to the mark for international cricket and hence not making the cut to final squads needs to go," Panchal tweeted on Friday.

Sarfaraz Khan has been one of the most prolific red-ball batters in recent times without a doubt where he has literally dominated every domestic red-ball competition with staggering consistency.

Sarfaraz’s Journey from Dream Debut to Selection Nightmare

After years of knocking on the door, he finally made his Test debut against England in a home series last year, where he impressed immediately with two fifties and later in the year, scored his maiden Test century against New Zealand in Bengaluru.

However, things have taken a turn for the worse since then. A lack of role clarity and inconsistent opportunities have hampered his growth. Moreover, he didn't play a single Test against Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, which India eventually lost 3-1.

Now, with the five-match Test series in England approaching, the selectors have once again overlooked him, instead showing faith in the more experienced Karun Nair, who also made a strong performance for India A with a double century on Saturday, May 31.

Selectors Under Fire as Sarfaraz Omission Raises Eyebrows

Now, looking at the bigger picture, Sarfaraz's omission has sparked debate among fans and former players like Panchal, who has shared the dressing room with the Mumbai batter in various domestic tournaments and for India A as well.

Panchal, himself being a long-time performer who never earned a Test cap, empathized with Sarfaraz, stating indirectly that consistent domestic excellence should always be the pathway to international opportunities and not a reason for doubt.