The latest India-A squad selection for the upcoming four-day series against South Africa-A has taken the cricket world by surprise, primarily due to the exclusion of Sarfaraz Khan. The Mumbai batsman, a consistent performer in domestic tournaments, finds himself on the sidelines, leaving fans questioning the selection rationale. While the return of Rishabh Pant signals a strengthened core for the senior Test team, Sarfaraz’s omission has become a focal point of fan discussion. It’s understood that Sarfaraz’s exclusion is not linked to any fitness concerns; he has made a full recovery from a quadriceps injury and has been scoring runs in the Ranji Trophy. His past contributions to India-A, including a vital knock against England-A, further add to the bewilderment surrounding his absence. A significant factor influencing this decision appears to be the outstanding form of Rajat Patidar. Patidar’s exceptional run in the current domestic season, marked by centuries and high averages, has seemingly put him ahead in the race for selection. The India-A team also features current Test players, indicating a strategy to maintain match fitness for the senior squad. Furthermore, the emphasis on developing all-rounders for future spin-bowling needs might have also played a role in prioritizing players with dual skills. Despite this snub, Sarfaraz Khan’s domestic career remains strong, and he has the opportunity to press his claims further in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season.
