Three days after the India squad was announced, Sarfaraz broke his silence about his absence, revealing his initial reaction to the exclusion and detailing his recent discussions with selection committee chairman Chetan Sharma.
Fans, pundits and veteran cricketers were shocked when Sarfaraz Khan was again snubbed in his first two Tests against Australia the following month. The 25-year-old has had a phenomenal run in his trophy career so far, and over the past three seasons he has continued to score tremendously. And now, Sarfaraz has broken his silence about his absence, revealing his initial reaction to his ouster and detailing a recent discussion with the selection committee chair Chetan Sharma.
2019-20 Ranji His Trophy During his season, Sarfaraz scored 928 runs in his 154.66. In the next edition he managed 982 runs at 122.75 in 2021/22. In the current edition so far he has managed 801 runs in 89 runs. His incredible run in his third straight season earned him his first-class career batting average of 80.47. I was right behind Don Bradman.
Any player should expect great things from that kind of run and consistency. And of course denying it leads to heartbreak. Sarfaraz revealed the same in an interview with the Times of India.
“I was so sad when the team was announced and my name wasn’t there. I thought I would be selected and I wasn’t, so anyone in my place in this world I was sad all day yesterday while traveling from Guwahati to Delhi. I feel very lonely. I cried too,” he said.
Sarfaraz then revealed the startling fact in his 2021/22 Ranji Trophy final in June that the selectors had told him to prepare for the series in Bangladesh. However, he was not selected. Selectors also met him recently. “When I scored my century in the final of the Ranji Trophy in Bangalore, I made a choice. I recently met Sir Chetan Sharma (Chief Selector) while checking into a hotel in Mumbai. They are very close together (Indian moorings). You’ll get your chance, so I had high hopes when I played another important knocking game…but it’s okay.”