The BCCI on Tuesday announced the India A squads for two four-day matches against South Africa A, scheduled at the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bangalore. Notably, Sarfaraz Khan, who last represented India in the home series against New Zealand in November 2024, has been ruled out of both matches.
Sarfaraz Khan recently returned to competitive cricket for Mumbai in their first match of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy against Jammu and Kashmir. The right-handed batter registered scores of 42 and 32 in the two innings of Mumbai’s victory. Notably, he recently lost a lot of weight and looks fitter than ever in his career.
Sarfaraz Khan’s exclusion from India team raises eyebrows
Sarfaraz Khan’s continued omission from the Indian team has raised questions. The 27-year-old scored 92 against England Lions during India A’s tour of England and an unbeaten century in an intra-squad match with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
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Sarfaraz Khan has been one of India’s most consistent red-ball players, amassing 2,467 runs in the last five years at an average of 117.47, including 10 centuries and five fifties.
However, the young batter has struggled in recent outings for India, scoring 11, 9, 0 and 1 in Pune and Mumbai against New Zealand on the order returners. Despite traveling to Australia for the Test series, Devdutt Padikkal (who was not part of the original squad) and Dhruv Jurel had opportunities in front of him.
Sarfaraz Khan ruled out of India team to focus on Ranji Trophy
According to a report in the Times of India, Sarfaraz Khan’s omission from the Indian A red-ball team does not mark the end of his Test prospects. The selectors would like him to train regularly in the Ranji Trophy following his injury.
His inclusion in the second match was considered, but key players like KL Rahul preferred to take part to prepare for India’s upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa at home.
“It is not true that he is not even in the scheme of things for the Indian Test team, or that doors have been closed for him. He is a talented player. The reality is that the selectors want to ensure that Sarfaraz can play as many matches as possible in the Ranji Trophy after his return from injury,” a BCCI source told TOI.
“He would have missed the next rounds of the Ranji Trophy if he had been included in this squad. There were thoughts of including him in the squad for the second match, but then all the Indian players, like KL Rahul, are keen to play in this match to practice before the two-Test series at home against South Africa.”
Teenage opener Ayush Mhatre receives unexpected India cap
Ayush Mhatre received a surprise call-up to the India A team. The teenage opener scored just 38 runs at 12.66 in two U-19 Tests against Australia and 10 runs at 3.33 in three youth ODIs.
However, his father, Yogesh Mhatre, described the selection as a “Diwali gift”. He thanked the selectors for giving his son a platform to prove himself. Yogesh admitted that Ayush’s personal form in Australia had been disappointing.
“It’s a surprise Diwali gift for us. It’s a golden opportunity for him. This season is not going very well for him, but he still got a good platform to perform. I have to applaud the thinking of the selectors who invested in him,” Yogesh Mhatre told TOI.
“Ayush did not score runs in Australia, but he was happy that India won all the matches on this tour. The players were also happy with his captaincy,” he added.
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