India will host South Africa for a home Test series starting in November, with the India A team set to play two matches against South Africa A from October 30. When the squad was announced, Sarfaraz Khan’s omission raised eyebrows. Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin voiced his disappointment over Sarfaraz being left out.
Ashwin questioned both the selection and the communication process, suggesting that if the selectors felt they had seen enough of Sarfaraz, the same could apply to several other players in the squad. The spin legend expressed confusion over the decision, noting that Sarfaraz Khan had scored runs and improved his fitness.
“I cannot find an answer to Sarfaraz Khan’s non-selection. I am very sad and sorry for him. He has reduced his weight, has scored runs. I really feel sorry for him. This sort of non-selection leads him to think that he has been seen enough and is not wanted. Where will he perform? The doors have been shut,” he said on ‘Ash ki Baat‘.
Ashwin Questions Sai Sudharsan’s Selection Over Easwaran
Ashwin also pointed out a notable concern in Indian cricket selection, highlighting how Sai Sudharsan was chosen over Abhimanyu Easwaran, largely due to his strong IPL performances. Sudharsan scored 759 runs in IPL 2025 and has featured in five Test matches so far.
“IPL has a lot of advantages and disadvantages. See the case of Sai Sudharsan. He is a fabulous player. But how did he leapfrog Abhimanyu Easwaran? His performance in a tournament for 2-3 months has overshadowed the performance that Easwaran has put through the first-class season.”
“Rewarding domestic performers is always up to the selectors. This is happening only because that player has done well in the IPL. Selectors need to see whether they want to reward first-class performances or IPL performances.”
Easwaran has appeared in 106 first-class matches, amassing 8,025 runs, including 27 centuries. Despite traveling with the Indian team for some time, he is yet to make his Test debut.
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