Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has called out captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir over the lack of clarity surrounding Sarfaraz Khan's future in the Indian team.
Ashwin believes that if there are doubts about Sarfaraz's suitability for overseas conditions, the team management should clearly communicate this to the batter. According to Ashwin, this would help Sarfaraz focus on his strengths and build his career.
Sarfaraz, 28, has not played for India since the three-Test series against New Zealand in 2024. He made a strong statement in the first Test with a 150-run knock, but failed to replicate that performance in the next two matches.
He was subsequently left out of the playing XI during the Australia series and was later dropped from the squad altogether. The batter spent more than a year away from the Indian team, with questions surrounding the reasons for his exclusion.
One of the reported concerns was his suitability and technique in overseas conditions. However, Ashwin feels that Sarfaraz could carve out a significant role for himself in conditions where he is particularly comfortable, especially against spin.
A place for Sarfaraz in the Galle Test against Sri Lanka could make sense given his ability to handle spin. The right-hander is comfortable using his feet against spinners and has shown an ability to keep the scoring rate moving by putting pressure on them.
His sweep shot is another weapon that could prove useful in Sri Lankan conditions, allowing him to disrupt a spinner's rhythm and force changes in length. Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel has produced mixed returns so far and did not make an impact during India's warm-up game against SLC XI.
Ashwin still expects Jurel to be preferred for the first Test, but Sarfaraz's experience of batting at No. 5 means a move to No. 6 would not represent a major adjustment. Much of his domestic career for Mumbai and the West Zone has come in the middle order, where he has accumulated a huge volume of runs.
With spin expected to play a major role in Galle, India face an interesting choice between Jurel and Sarfaraz. While Jurel appears to have the edge in Ashwin's assessment, Sarfaraz's record against spin and experience in the domestic game could make him a tempting option for the first Test.
The selection debate ahead of the opening Test against Sri Lanka is set to continue, with Sarfaraz's future in the Indian team hanging in the balance. The final decision is expected to be made by the team management, with the first Test set to begin on August 15.
Source: Yahoo Sports