Sarfaraz Khan. (Photo Source: Instagram)
The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) recently announced the ODI and Test squads of the Indian team for the upcoming West Indies tour. It is worth noting that India and the West Indies will face each other in a multi-format series from July 12.
Firstly, the sides will take on each other in two Test matches, followed by three ODIs, and finish the series with five T20I matches. As the BCCI declared the squad for the tour, the announcement followed plenty of uproar as 25-year-old Sarfaraz Khan was not picked for the Test squad.
Netizens took to Twitter to lambast the BCCI for not including Sarfaraz in the squad, as the Indian batter has undoubtedly been one of the best performers in the Ranji Trophy lately, and many opine that he was one of the most deserving candidates to make his way into the Indian squad for the West Indies tour.
Furthermore, Sarfaraz has now broken his silence over his non-selection. Taking to his Instagram story, Sarfaraz posted a video of his batting prowess in the Ranji Trophy without a caption. Several former cricketers feel that Sarfaraz Khan is one of the best performers in first-class cricket and surely deserves to make his debut for the national team.
Sarfaraz Khan’s latest Instagram Story after he wasn’t selected for West Indies Tests. 👇🏻👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/ITzJMl7QUD
— Harshit Bisht (@rk_harshit29) June 25, 2023
In 37 first-class matches, the 25-year-old has amassed 3505 runs to his name, and him missing out on Test selection left many experts fuming as well. Apart from Sarfaraz, there are several new names that will feature in the Indian team on the West Indies tour.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Mukesh Kumar have received call-ups as they have been named in the Indian squad for the West Indies tour. Furthermore, veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara has been dropped from the Test squad.
Team India will gear up for the multi-format series as it looks to make a comeback from its recent heartbreaking loss in the final of the World Test Championship, where they were overpowered by Australia.