Sunil Gavaskar, a former captain of India, blasted the selection committee for skipping Sarfaraz Khan for the two Test matches in the West Indies next month.
If players in the Test team are still chosen solely based on their performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL), according to the 73-year-old, there is no need to continue the Ranji Trophy competition.
It’s past time for Sarfaraz to join the India team, according to the former cricketer turned commentator.
Axar Patel and Shubman Gill are selected by Sunil Gavaskar to be the future captains of India
Who Should Have Been Picked In The Test Team?
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sarfaraz Khan.#Cricket #CricketNews #CricketTwitter #TeamIndia #IndianCricketTeam #BCCI #RuturajGaikwad #YashasviJaiswal #sarfarazkhan #IndiavsWestIndies #BCCI pic.twitter.com/xutf3fBAOW
— CricInformer (@CricInformer) June 23, 2023
Gavaskar stated in an interview with India Today:
“Sarfaraz Khan has scored 100 points on average over the last three seasons. He may not be in the XI, but you choose him for the squad; what must he do to earn that selection?”.
He continued:
“Say that his efforts are being appreciated. Otherwise, you should stop watching Ranji Trophy.”
Say, “It’s pointless; you just play IPL and believe you are qualified for the red ball game as well.”
In the 2022–23 Ranji Trophy, Sarfaraz scored 3 centuries and totaled 556 runs in six games at an average of 92–66.
In the 2021–22 Ranji season, the right-handed batter had four tons and 982 runs at an average of 122 points.
Sarfaraz Khan has so far amassed 3505 runs in 37 first-class games at an average of 79.65, including 13 centuries.
As future captains of India, Sunil Gavaskar chooses Shubman Gill and Axar Patel.
Shubman Gill and Axar Patel, in Sunil Gavaskar’s opinion, are his top picks to lead India in the future.
The veteran recommended developing the pair as potential leaders.
He continued:
“One is Shubman Gill and the other is Axar Patel [as future captains] because Axar is progressing so quickly and just gets better and better every game.”
“They’ll reflect if they give him the vice-captaincy position. So, in my opinion, these are the two candidates.”
He then continued:
“If there are others, someone like Ishan Kishan, after he establishes his position in the team. He is also eligible to participate in the calculation.”
However, Gavaskar gave Ajinkya Rahane credit for taking over as Team India’s vice captain in Test matches.
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