Consistent Domestic Performer Sarfaraz Khan was once again snubbed from Indian Squad for the upcoming West Indies series, despite doing well in domestic cricket over the last few years. Veteran Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped from the squad, but the selectors have selected young Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad to fill his spot in the test squad.
Sarfaraz Khan was one of the prominent names missing from the Indian squad despite performing well in domestic cricket. He has been one of the consistent performers for Mumbai, as he amassed 2970 runs from 26 matches (12 centuries, seven half-centuries) at an average of 106.07, but was not given the opportunity to represent the country at the highest level.
Cricketer turned commentator Aakash Chopra questioned the Indian selectors about Sarfaraz Khan’s place in Indian cricket, as he scored a truckload of runs in domestic cricket and wants the selectors to give a proper reason for his exclusion from the Indian team and reckons that it was one of most baffling not to select consistent performer in the team.
“What should Sarfaraz do? If you look at his numbers in the past 3 years, he’s head and shoulders above the rest. He’s scored everywhere. Even then, if he’s not selected… what message does it send?”
“This is a question worth asking. If there’s some other reason, something which you and I don’t know, make it public. Just say that you didn’t like that particular thing about Sarfaraz, and that’s why you’re not considering him. But we don’t know if there’s something like that. I don’t know if someone told Sarfaraz about that”. Aakash Chopra said
The right-handed batter can be an option for the wicket-keeping spot in the coming years in red-ball cricket. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad were given the opportunity in the test squad for the West Indies tour, as many domestic performers were ignored from the squad.
It Leaves A Sour Taste In The Mouth – Aakash Chopra On Selectors Ignoring Domestic Performance
Aakash Chopra expressed his disappointment over the importance of domestic cricket in India, as the selectors have picked the squad based on the player’s performance in the Indian Premier League, which leaves a huge question mark on the players, who played well in domestic cricket.
“If you don’t value first-class runs, it leaves a sour taste in the mouth,” Aakash Chopra added
Many domestic performers like Sarfaraz Khan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Baba Indrajith, and Priyank Panchal were ignored from the squad for the upcoming series, as these players have consistently performed for their domestic team over the last few years