Former Australian spinner Brad Hogg has recently commented on the exclusion of Sarfaraz Khan from the Indian Test squad for the upcoming West Indies tour. Hogg believes that while Sarfaraz has been in sensational form in domestic cricket, particularly in the Ranji Trophy, his performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) need improvement to secure a long career with the Indian Test team.
Hailing from Mumbai, Sarfaraz Khan has been a standout performer in the Ranji Trophy over the past three seasons. With a cumulative total of 2566 runs, including impressive seasons in 2019/20, 2021/22, and 2022/23, Sarfaraz’s performances have caught the attention of cricket enthusiasts and selectors alike. His consistent run-scoring ability has raised questions about why he was overlooked for the Test squad.
During a discussion on his YouTube channel, Brad Hogg shed light on the reasons behind Sarfaraz Khan’s omission from the Indian Test side. While acknowledging Sarfaraz’s sensational form in domestic cricket, Hogg pointed out the concerns surrounding his performance in the IPL.
According to Hogg, Sarfaraz has struggled against high-quality pacers in the IPL, managing only 53 runs in four matches for Delhi Capitals in the 2023 season.
“Sarfaraz Khan has been sensational in the Ranji Trophy. Why is he not in this squad? I know why Sarfaraz Khan wasn’t picked and is not looked out in the India line-up right now at Test level,” said Hogg.
Hogg emphasized the significance of IPL performance in shaping Sarfaraz’s Test career. As Sarfaraz often bats in the middle order for his state team, Hogg believes his ability to face and counter top-quality pace bowling in the IPL will be a critical factor in earning him a place in the Indian Test line-up. Improving his record against high pace could strengthen Sarfaraz’s case for a long-term Test career.
“He bats in the middle order for his state team that’s five or six. Also, in the IPL if you look at his record against good-quality high pace bowling, it’s not that good,” Hogg added.
Despite being overlooked for the Test squad, Sarfaraz Khan boasts an impressive career average of 79.65 after playing 37 red-ball matches. This statistic showcases his ability to perform consistently and make significant contributions in the game’s longer format. It further strengthens the argument that Sarfaraz deserves a chance to showcase his skills on the international stage.
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“I think this is where the Indian selectors are a little bit shy with Sarfaraz Khan. If he can improve that in the next IPL then I’m sure he’s going to have a long career for India at Test level,” said Hogg.
Hogg suggested that the Indian selectors might be cautious about including Sarfaraz Khan in the Test setup due to his IPL performances against high-quality pacers. However, Hogg remains optimistic, stating that if Sarfaraz can improve his IPL displays in the upcoming edition, he will undoubtedly have a long and successful Test career for India.
