Aakash Chopra Criticizes Sarfaraz's Omission Despite Stellar Performance

Despite not getting a place in the Test squad announced for the tour of England, Sarfaraz Khan gave a brilliant reply on the field. In the two-day practice match played between India A and the main team at Beckenham, Sarfaraz scored a brilliant century in just 76 balls, which included 15 fours and 2 sixes. Earlier, he had scored 92 runs against England Lions in Canterbury.

However, despite such a good performance, many veterans are raising questions about keeping Sarfaraz out of the Test team. Former cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra openly expressed his displeasure. "Sarfaraz has so far done nothing wrong. In every match he played, he scored over 90 runs. Still, the next match was not played, and now he is not even part of the Test team.”

Chopra said that if the team management does not believe in his technique, then there is no point in sending him with India A as well. He raised the question that when you believe that he can score runs, only then he has been selected in the India A team, then why not in the Test team?

Akash also reminded that in the Bangalore Test against New Zealand in October 2024, Sarfaraz scored 150 runs in the second innings. After that, he got to play just three more red-ball matches and then was out for about six months.

He said,

"If a player is scoring runs and still being ignored, it is doubtful that something is not going right with him.”

In place of Sarfaraz, veteran Karun Nair has been included in the team, who was performing well in domestic cricket. Selectors' chairman Ajit Agarkar said,

"Sometimes the team management has to take decisions, which may seem right or wrong for anyone, but are done for the benefit of the team."