Sarfaraz Khan smashed an unbeaten 100 off just 47 balls for Mumbai against Assam in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He cracked 8 fours and 7 sixes and powered Mumbai to a strong 220 for 4 in 20 overs. The knock has again pushed his name back into the national conversation.
Many fans feel this innings was more than a T20 burst. It was another reminder of the consistency he brings across formats. Sarfaraz has been left out by the selectors for a long time, even for India A games. This is surprising for many because his domestic numbers have been among the best in the country.
The timing of this hundred is also important. India have a five match T20I series coming up. Shubman Gill is still working on his fitness. This could open a space in the squad. Sarfaraz’s form puts pressure on the Ajit Agarkar led panel to look at him again.
Former players and supporters are openly questioning the BCCI for ignoring him. They point to India’s recent batting struggles, especially against spin. The 0-2 home Test loss to South Africa is still fresh. Simon Harmer took 17 wickets in that series and exposed India’s weak play against the turning ball.
Sarfaraz has already shown he can handle long format cricket. He has scored 371 runs in 6 Tests, including a century and three fifties. In first class cricket, he has 4863 runs in 60 games. His average of 63.15, along with 16 hundreds and 16 fifties, puts him among the most dependable batters in the country.
Why His Case Looks Stronger Now
Sarfaraz’s supporters believe that India continue to back out of form players while someone with his record keeps waiting. They argue that a multi format batter with proven numbers should not be on the sidelines for this long. The latest hundred only highlights the gap between performance and selection.
Many feel the selectors need to rethink their plans. India’s batting has been shaky in key moments over the past year. A player in Sarfaraz’s form and confidence could add depth to the middle order in both Tests and T20s. His strike rate and ability to handle pressure make him a strong option.
As the T20I series approaches, all eyes will be on the selection meeting. Sarfaraz has done his part again. Whether the selectors reward his run making or continue to overlook him will be watched closely by fans across India.