Sarfaraz Khan resumed his role in the Indian Test Team after a gap of over a year and will be the basis for the next two-Test series against Sri Lanka in the absence of Sai Sudharsan. But even though he has been recalled, the Mumbai batsman cannot expect to immediately join the playing XI for the first Test in Galle on August 15 following the call to action.
The selection debate has now been narrowed down to Sarfaraz and Dhruv Jurel with views splintered on who would be going out. But ex-spinner Ravichandran Ashvin sees Jurel as being a better option to start first than Sarfaraz.
Sarfaraz last played for India in the three-Test series they played with New Zealand. He then bowled impressively in the first Test but was unable to cope in the next two Tests. He was then changed on to the bench in the Australia series and was subsequently dropped from the squad altogether.
Stranger still, the 28-year-old has been missing from the Test arena altogether for over a year for now significant reasons have been speculated.
A topic discussed was that of the team management’s uncertainty about Sarfaraz’s technique in overseas conditions. If there’s any such concern, it would be best to communicate it clearly, Ashwin said, looking at the attitude of the captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Ashwin believes Sarfaraz could be a strong player for the country in subcontinental conditions and his strengths could make him one of the marquees for the Indians in the future.
Ahead of the first Test in Galle, the crew would thus have to rely on evaluating the situation and his likely inclusion in the 11 in the upcoming Test.
However, for the time being, Ashwin is felt to have the upper hand to go with him ahead of the series against Sri Lanka.