Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes Sarfaraz Khan should have been picked ahead of fellow Mumbai batter Suryakumar Yadav in the Indian Test squad for the first two matches against Australia. The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced the Indian squad on Friday, January 13, with Suryakumar Yadav getting his maiden India test call-up. However, Sarfaraz Khan’s absence from the squad resulted in a lot of backlashes.
Sarfaraz Khan has been in terrific form in domestic cricket. In 36 matches, he has scored 3380 runs at an average of 80.47, including twelve centuries and the highest score of an unbeaten 301. Despite his prolific record in first-class cricket, the right-handed batter hasn’t received a test call-up. In a video on Aakash Chopra’s Youtube channel, the former cricketer said,
“Sarfaraz’s name is still not there. He feels he got cheated because his name should probably have come. Bumrah is still not there. That’s another news but I am more concerned that Sarfaraz is not there.”
Sarfaraz Khan has done everything in his power to be in the Indian team: Aakash Chopra
Former cricketer Aakash Chopra further pointed out that Sarfaraz Khan has an exceptional average in first-class cricket. He added that the middle-order batter has done everything in his power to earn a maiden call-up in the team. Aakash opined that Sarfaraz Khan deserved to be picked ahead of Suryakumar Yadav. He said,
“When you picked Surya, it means a slot had opened up. In my opinion, Sarfaraz should have gotten that chance because Sarfaraz’s first-class average is 80. Apart from him, only Don Bradman has an average of 80 or more in the number of matches he has played.”
“So he has done everything in his power to be in the Indian team. I am a little disappointed, that if you had a chance to select even one guy because both Surya and Sarfaraz don’t come in the XI. Sarfaraz had the right in my opinion. If someone’s domestic season is going so good, you should have rewarded him,” added Aakash Chopra.
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