Sarfaraz Khan's India Test comeback hopes fade as youngster prepares to exit squad

New Delhi: Sarfaraz Khan was surprisingly left out of India’s playing XI for the opening Test against Bangladesh in Chennai last week, despite his impressive performance in his first five innings for the team. Having scored three half-centuries, including two consecutive fifties on his debut against England at Rajkot earlier this year, many expected him to be a part of the middle-order for the Chepauk game. However, the more experienced KL Rahul was given the nod for the role, having missed a few matches against England due to injury.

Rahul didn’t make much of the chance given to him and could score only 38 runs against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, where he was criticized for losing his wicket after scoring 16 off 52 balls in the first innings. However, head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma are likely to vouch for him. But he would again be included in the playing XI for the second Test, which begins Thursday at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium.

As India continues to back KL Rahul for the second Test, Sarfaraz Khan is likely to be released for the Irani Cup, according to a PTI report. He is expected to join the Mumbai squad for the red-ball contest against the Rest of India in Lucknow, with the tournament set to begin on October 1.

“Look, Sarfaraz is the only specialist middle-order batter in the squad. Dhruv Jurel is a keeper-batsman and Axar Patel is an all-rounder. What if there is a need for a concussion substitute? But yes, the Irani Cup starts on October 1 and travelling from Kanpur to Lucknow even on September 30 won’t be a big deal if the Test match ends early,” a BCCI source told PTI.

The Mumbai Cricket Association, though still to formalize their appeal for Sarfaraz Khan’s release, should declare their Irani Cup squad on Wednesday. Once the request is made, he is likely to feature in the tournament itself.

Suryakumar Yadav, who has had a torrid run in his red-ball cricket, played just a solitary game in the Buchi Babu tournament and made one appearance in the Duleep Trophy, will not make it to the Irani Cup. The India T20I captain, along with all-rounder Shivam Dube, will also not be available as both are automatic selections for the Indian T20I side that is scheduled to take part in a three-match series against Bangladesh starting from October 3 to 6.

Shreyas Iyer, following the abject Duleep Trophy campaign that he had, means that chances of returning to the Indian Test squad shrink further, however, will get another chance to impress the BCCI selectors with the Irani Cup. All-rounder Shardul Thakur is also set to return to red-ball cricket in the Irani Cup and will look at this platform to establish himself for India’s squad to take on New Zealand in the home series.