Sarfaraz Khan (Source:X)Sarfaraz Khan’s sensational run in Indian domestic cricket has once again brought him into the spotlight. The Mumbai batter was reportedly close to being selected for India’s Test squad against South Africa as a replacement for injured captain Shubman Gill. However, despite strong performances and consistent numbers, Sarfaraz was eventually left out.Double ton in Ranji Trophy strengthens Sarfaraz Khan's caseSarfaraz Khan showcased his top form with a brilliant double century in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2025–26 match between Mumbai and Hyderabad. Playing at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, the right-handed batter scored a magnificent 227 runs off 219 balls. His innings included 19 fours and 9 sixes and came at an impressive strike rate of 103.65.Sarfaraz reached his double hundred in 206 deliveries and looked in complete control throughout his stay at the crease. Riding on his knock, Mumbai crossed the 500-run mark, with skipper Siddhesh Lad also scoring a century.It is important to note that this was Khan's fifth double century in first-class cricket and his fourth in the Ranji Trophy alone.Sarfaraz's consistent performances across formatsSarfaraz Khan's form has not been limited to red-ball cricket. Over the past few months, he has delivered match-winning performances in white-ball tournaments as well.In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025, the star batter made 329 runs in 7 innings at an average of 65.80 and a strike rate of 203.09.One of the standout moments of his season came when he scored a 15-ball half-century against Punjab in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the fastest by an Indian batter in List A cricket.He finished the tournament as Mumbai's highest run-scorer, accumulating 303 runs in six innings at an average of 75.75 and a strike rate of 190.56.Looking at his FC numbers, the 28-year-old batter has played 60 matches and scored 4863 runs at an average of 63.15. In List A cricket, he made 932 runs in 43 matches at an average of 42.36 and a strike-rate of 112.69.With such numbers across formats, Sarfaraz Khan is making a strong case for himself to make India's comeback. Missed opportunity after Gill's injury raises questionsAccording to a report by senior journalist Gaurav Gupta, Sarfaraz Khan was close to being selected for the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati as a replacement for Shubman Gill. Gill suffered a neck injury during the first Test and was ruled out of the second Test match. Gaurav Gupta @toi_gauravG Hearing that #SarfarazKhan came close to being called up for the second Test at Guwahati vs South Africa as replacement for Indian captain Shubman Gill, who was injured.. but missed out..wonder why?? Despite Sarfaraz being in strong contention, the call-up never came. This decision has sparked debate, especially given Sarfaraz’s solid Test record. He has played six Test matches for India so far, scoring 371 runs at an average of 37.10.Sarfaraz last represented India in a Test match against New Zealand in November 2024. Since then, he has continued piling up runs at the domestic level but has struggled to find a consistent place in the national setup.His current form has also reopened his door in IPL. In the mini-auction, Sarfaraz Khan was bought by the Chennai Super Kings for a base price of ₹75 Lakh. However, the bigger question remains unanswered -how long can India afford to ignore a batter who keeps delivering every time he steps onto the field?
