The BCCI has finally spoken about Sarfaraz Khan’s omission from the India A squad for the upcoming four-day matches against South Africa A. The matches are scheduled to take place at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru later this month.
The decision raised many eyebrows among fans and experts, especially since Sarfaraz has been one of India’s most consistent performers in domestic cricket over the last few years.
Sarfaraz Left Out Despite Strong Domestic Record
Sarfaraz Khan, who last played for India in the home series against New Zealand in November 2024, was not included in either of the India A squads.
This comes as a surprise, considering his excellent record in red-ball cricket and a strong comeback in domestic tournaments.
Earlier this year, Sarfaraz scored a brilliant 92 for India A against England Lions in Canterbury before suffering a quadriceps injury that sidelined him for a few months.
After recovering from injury, Sarfaraz made his return for Mumbai in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2025–26 season. He looked in good touch, scoring 42 and 32 runs in the match against Jammu and Kashmir, which helped Mumbai begin their campaign with a win. The 27-year-old has also undergone a major physical transformation in recent months, shedding weight and looking fitter than ever before.
Selectors Face Criticism for Omission
As soon as the India A squads were announced, social media buzzed with criticism and accusations of bias. Many questioned why Sarfaraz was ignored, especially when his First-Class average of over 100 in the last five years stands as one of the best in the world.
The squad also saw wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant making a long-awaited comeback from injury, and he was named captain of both four-day matches. However, Sarfaraz’s absence once again sparked debates about selection fairness in Indian cricket.
BCCI Explains the Decision
According to reports from The Times of India, BCCI sources clarified that Sarfaraz’s omission is not permanent and that he remains very much in the plans for the national team. The selectors want him to gain consistent match practice in the Ranji Trophy before making a return to higher levels.
“It’s not true that he’s out of the Indian Test plans,” a BCCI official told TOI. The selectors want Sarfaraz to continue playing in the Ranji Trophy after returning from injury. Including him now would have meant missing important domestic games.”
The source further revealed that there was discussion about picking him for the second match, but with senior players like KL Rahul expressing interest to play for match practice ahead of the home Test series against South Africa, Sarfaraz had to miss out.
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Fitness and Match Readiness Also a Factor
A BCCI official also told NDTV that Sarfaraz’s absence is not due to form or bias but mainly fitness and readiness after his injury. “Sarfaraz was out with a quadriceps injury. He recently played the first round of the Ranji Trophy, which is his only competitive game after returning.
The selectors will monitor his performances in the ongoing Ranji season before recalling him to the India A setup,” the source said. The official also added that Sarfaraz is likely to get his opportunity soon once he regains full match rhythm.
India A Squads for South Africa Series
1st Four-Day Match: Rishabh Pant (capt, wk), Ayush Mhatre, N Jagadeesan (wk), Sai Sudharsan (vice-capt), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Anshul Kamboj, Yash Thakur, Ayush Badoni, Saransh Jain, Gurnoor Brar, Khaleel Ahmed.
2nd Four-Day Match: Rishabh Pant (capt, wk), KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Sai Sudharsan (vice-capt), Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.
Written By:- Manjunath S