Sarfaraz Khan and the need for clarity: Gambhir and Agarkar must give him clear direction | Cricket news
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Sarfaraz Khan needs clear communication about his role, with a focus on conditions in the Indian subcontinent. Teams like New Zealand and Australia use specialists for specific conditions.
Sarfaraz Khan last took the Test in 2024. (PTI Image)
Nearly two years after playing his last Test, Sarfraz Khan has returned to the India squad. It is true that the door opened after Sai Sudharsen’s injury, and it is likely that Sarfaraz will not be able to feature in the playing XI for the two-match Test series in Sri Lanka.
However, a player of his ability needs to be treated well, and a clear message must be sent so that he can focus his energies in the right direction.
Known for his prowess in confronting spinners, Sarfaraz He played all six of his Tests for India, having made his long-awaited debut against England in February 2024. He had a good start to his international career: 371 runs from 11 innings at an average of 37.10.
It has a century and three half centuries.
However, the Indian team management does not seem to have the same level of confidence in him under conditions more conducive to pace bowling.
Although he was part of India’s tour of Australia in 2024-25, Sarfaraz did not play any matches and was subsequently not selected for the tour of England in 2025 and later in the year, he was not selected for the home series against West Indies and South Africa either.
However, a happy turn of events – or unfortunate, depending on which side of the fence you sit on – has given the 28-year-old another chance to relaunch his career in India.
The big question is: Where will Sarfaraz fit into the team if India consider giving him a chance in the playing XI? Who sits when he enters?
There may be a competition between Sarfaraz and Dhruv Gurriel, but for former Indian pacer Ravichandran Ashwin, the latter is an obvious choice.
Sarfaraz came on as a replacement for Sudharsen, who finished third India in Tests.
With Devdutt Padikkal certain to bat at number three in the first Test after confirming his claim with a century in the warm-up match, the only other place that looks available is in the lower middle order, where Jurel is expected to bat.
However, India are likely to commit to Gurriel, meaning Sarfaraz may have to watch the proceedings from the dressing room.
However, Ashwin wants India to give Sarfaraz clarity on how he sees it.
If they consider him a strong bowler, he should be informed so that he can continue to work in this field and enhance his skills.
“I have said it before, for Sarfraz Khan too, messaging is very important. If someone thinks Sarfaraz Khan could be a suspect in some circumstances, then you need to give him clarity,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
“Say to him: Sarfaraz, your opportunity is to serve India in the conditions of the subcontinent.” So Sarfaraz will not waste his time focusing on everything else. “He can focus on putting in a good performance, become the king of conditions in the subcontinent and build his career,” he added.
Although a cricketer will always have confidence in his ability to play in varied conditions, team management should not come with preconceived notions, Ashwin said.
Instead, the player should be given the opportunity to “fail.”
“Look, a cricketer might think, ‘I can play in every condition, on every continent. Of course, even I would say that. If someone does well in first-class cricket, give them a chance to fail. Don’t make the decision yourself that he’s not good enough to play in (some) conditions. I do not support that. But if you feel that way, tell him – he can improve elsewhere, and on these pitches, he can give India a competitive edge by playing against spin,” Ashwin said.
Ashwin cited examples of teams like Australia, New Zealand and South Africa who have specialists in the Indian subcontinent.
“Look at New Zealand. They are playing Ajaz Patel in subcontinent conditions. The communication is clear. Look at South Africa. Simon Harmer comes in and plays in subcontinent conditions. There are several cases. Australia brings Peter Handscombe to India because he is playing well. Usman Khawaja is playing well, so they brought him in and he dominated the subcontinent, and he became Australia’s Test opener.”
Key questions answered
Ask the news18Sarfraz Khan is likely not to be included in the playing XI for the two-match Test series in Sri Lanka. He has returned to the team as a replacement for Sai Sudharsen, who is ranked third, and is currently behind Dhruv Gurel in the pecking order. There is debate among experts as to whether he should play, with some suggesting he is better suited to the conditions of the subcontinent due to his ability to bowl spin.
Ask the news18About the author
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years and is currently working with Network18 as a Senior Reporter. He started his journey in 2011 and has since gained extensive experience…Read more
14 August 2026 at 08:10 IST
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