Indian cricket phenom Sarfaraz Khan will continue to wait for his chance at the highest level, as he was snubbed from his nation’s squad for the upcoming Test series against Australia, despite his eye-popping red ball numbers.
The 25-year-old has been a phenomenon in India’s Ranji Trophy for the past few seasons, averaging triple digits in the 2019/20, 2021/22 and current seasons.
“He has done everything in his powers to be in the Indian team, I am a little disappointed,” former Indian international Aakosh Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
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Khan went one step further, posting on his Instagram account a graphic showing his stats for Mumbai in first-class cricket, and then a graphic listing the best-ever first class averages, where he sits second behind Don Bradman.
The batter was interviewed by The Indian Express after the squad was announced, and it was clear how much the snub has affected him.
“I came from Assam to Delhi the day after the selection, and wasn’t able to sleep the whole night,” he said.
“I kept asking why am I not there? But now after speaking to my father, I’m back to normal. I will never give up practice, I will not go under depression. Don’t worry, I will keep trying.”
Others, including cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle, couldn’t believe Khan had been left out of the squad for the Border-Gavaskar series, which begins on February 9.
“Very hard on Sarfaraz Khan who has literally broken the door down in first class cricket,” Bhogle wrote on Twitter.
“You can’t do more than he has.”
Highest first-class batting average
95.14 – Donald Bradman
80.47 – Sarfaraz Khan
71.64 – Vijay Merchant
69.86 – George Headley
67.46 – Ajay Sharma
* Minimum 50 first-class innings
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