The irony in Indian cricket is unusual. At a time when there are debates about the quality of Test batting and Test batting depth, there is an example of the most successful Red Ball batsman in the country making runs to get the job done as if he were working at the post office. Sarfaraz Khan, yet again, entered a Ranji Trophy match and left with a statement unbeaten 142 of 164 deliveries against Hyderabad, his 17th First Class century, and a quiet benchmark of 5,000 FC runs from just 61 FC appearances.
There was no freak innings; it was simply what Sarfaraz does every time he goes out to bat. Over the past year alone, he has scored centuries across all formats (Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament). Consistency is no longer a phase, but a habitual pattern of play. Yet, with an average of 37.10 in Tests that includes his memorable 150 vs. New Zealand, Sarfaraz finds himself still on the outside looking in when it comes to India’s Test XI, as opportunity after opportunity slips away from him like the cloud that he cannot grab hold of.
Domestic Runs That Refuse Silence
Sarfaraz’s 142* wasn’t built on reckless strokeplay or flat-track indulgence. It was controlled aggression, five sixes, eleven boundaries, and a strike rate that hovered near 86 in a first-class game. In Ranji terms, that’s not just dominance; that’s authority. When a batter converts starts into centuries this reliably, the numbers stop being noise and start becoming evidence.
Mumbai’s 332/4 on Day 1 wasn’t an accident. It was built on Sarfaraz’s tempo control and Siddhesh Lad’s patience. Against a Mohammed Siraj-led Hyderabad attack, Sarfaraz dictated terms, a skill selectors often claim they value but strangely overlook when it’s demonstrated outside international television windows.
Format Versatility, Not Format Confusion
One of the lazy critiques around Sarfaraz has been his supposed “format muddling” that his aggressive instincts might not translate cleanly into Test cricket. The last year has quietly demolished that argument. Centuries in Ranji (red ball), Vijay Hazare (50-over), and Syed Mushtaq Ali (T20) don’t signal recklessness; they signal adaptability.
Few Indian batters have shown such seamless gear-shifting across formats recently. Sarfaraz doesn’t play one way; he plays the situation. That’s a Test-match asset, not a liability.
The Bench Problem Nobody Talks About
Sarfaraz’s international story isn’t one of repeated failure; it’s one of prolonged waiting. After scoring 150 against New Zealand, he was picked for the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad, only to spend five Tests as a spectator. Then came the exclusion of England from the away, home series against West Indies and South Africa, all without a clear explanation.
Form didn’t drop. Fitness didn’t collapse. The technique didn’t unravel. Opportunity simply evaporated. For a player, that’s the cruelest dismissal of all.
The question now is no longer “Is Sarfaraz Khan good enough?” It’s whether the Indian selection is brave enough to reward domestic dominance without overthinking optics, strike rates, or past narratives. Because if this run-machine continues unchecked, the debate may soon flip from “Why isn’t Sarfaraz playing?” to “Why did it take so long?”
Key Takeaway
Sarfaraz Khan’s problem isn’t form it’s timing, trust, and a selection system still unsure how to value domestic certainty.
FAQs
1. What makes Sarfaraz Khan’s Ranji century special?
It was his 17th FC hundred, combining control and aggression while crossing 5,000 career runs.
2. Why hasn’t Sarfaraz played Tests recently?
Despite solid Test numbers, he was benched during the BGT and later dropped without clear reasoning.
3. How could Sarfaraz fit into India’s next Test cycle?
His middle-order stability and adaptability make him a strong candidate for the upcoming subcontinent tours.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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