![Sarfaraz Khan was included in India Test squad vs Sri Lanka [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1786687604300_SarfarazKhanwasincludedinIndiaTestsquadvsSriLanka.jpg?type=hq)
Sarfaraz Khan was included in India Test squad vs Sri Lanka [Source: AFP]
Sarfaraz was abruptly removed from the Indian Test squad before the Border-Gavaskar Series (2024-25), but he was recently drafted back into the Test setup as a replacement for the injured Sai Sudharsan. Despite scoring runs at home, the Mumbaikar was dropped from the red-ball team as he toiled hard in the domestic circuit.
The hard-hitting batter worked hard on his game in domestic cricket and is now in contention to get into the India playing XI for the first Test match against Sri Lanka.
He is in direct competition with Dhruv Jurel for a place in the middle order, and R Ashwin, the former India cricketer, feels the comeback man should be given clarity on his Test future.
Gambhir urged to give role clarity to Sarfaraz Khan
After getting dropped from the Test side, Sarfaraz missed quite a few important series, such as the BGT, the England tour, and the home series against the West Indies, and South Africa.
Ashwin stressed that the management, including coach Gautam Gambhir, should sit with Sarfaraz and talk to him about his future, particularly if they feel the batter is not suitable for certain conditions.
“Sarfaraz Khan has come back, yes, but he came in for Sai Sudharsan as an injury replacement. Messaging is important for Sarfaraz. If you feel he can be a suspect in some conditions, then you have to give him that clarity, that he has a chance in subcontinental conditions to play for India,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin advises Team India to give a specialist role to Sarfaraz in Tests
The veteran spinner also stated that, just like New Zealand’s Ajaz Patel and South Africa’s Simon Harmer, Sarfaraz could be given a specific role, keeping in mind certain cricketing conditions. Since Sarfaraz is an excellent spin player, Ashwin urges India to play him in spin-friendly conditions.
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“Then he will also not waste time and can focus on playing good spin and build a career. Communicate this to him. See New Zealand, Ajaz Patel plays in subcontinental conditions. It is clear. Simon Harmer for South Africa also. There are several cases,” Ashwin added.
Why Sarfaraz should be picked ahead of Jurel in first Test vs Sri Lanka
As stated by Ashwin, Sarfaraz is an excellent spin player and can be used as an aggressor in the middle order alongside Rishabh Pant to counter the Sri Lankan spinners.
He plays with a strike rate in excess of 70 in Tests, and if India needs a counter-punch, the Mumbaikar can be a solid option. Moreover, the Galle surface will be spin-friendly, and India can use his skill set to score runs at a rapid pace.
Sarfaraz Khan's Test journey at a glance
The right-handed batter has played just 6 Tests for India, and has racked up 371 runs, with an average of 37.10.
He has smashed a solitary hundred and three fifties in home conditions before the Indian team decided to axe him from the red-ball setup.
He was taken on the away tour of Australia in 2024-25, but several reports stated that he was dropped primarily due to his poor technique against pace and issues regarding his fitness.
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