Sanjay Manjrekar has criticized the decision to drop Sarfaraz Khan from the Indian team, calling it unfair. He believes Sarfaraz’s impressive domestic performances should have secured him more opportunities, instead of being replaced by KL Rahul.
Sarfaraz’s Performances and Exclusion
Sarfaraz earned his place in the Indian team after a string of strong domestic scores. He scored 200 runs in three matches during the England Tests, including three fifties, and later hit his maiden Test century against New Zealand in Bengaluru. However, a dip in form led to his exclusion from the squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Manjrekar’s Concerns
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Manjrekar expressed disappointment at how Sarfaraz’s case was handled. He pointed out that players like Abhimanyu Easwaran were also judged prematurely based on warm-up performances.
“When we discussed the first Test, I said it shouldn’t be as simple as dropping Sarfaraz Khan for KL Rahul,” Manjrekar remarked. “There was too much preemption. Cricket often throws surprises, and we shouldn’t judge players so quickly.”
Manjrekar emphasized that Sarfaraz’s exceptional first-class cricket record deserved recognition. He felt the team management should have given him more time to adapt and rewarded his consistency.
Rewarding Consistency
“Sarfaraz Khan earned his spot through his first-class performances, including three fifties and a 150. Dropping him after one poor Test was not fair,” Manjrekar said. “Even if there were concerns about certain pitches, he might have adapted. We’ve seen how he performed against England. It’s essential to reward players who score runs consistently.”
Sarfaraz’s Stats
So far, Sarfaraz has accumulated 371 runs from 11 innings, averaging 37.10. Despite the criticism surrounding his exclusion, his domestic record highlights his potential to contribute to the team.
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