There was a great uproar on social media when Sarfaraz Khan was left out of the Indian team for the first two Test matches against Australia. Even legendary cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar criticized the Chetan Sharma-led All India Selection Committee for overlooking Sarfaraz, a batter who is having a strong domestic season. “He is not staying off the field when he is scoring hundreds, he is back on the field again. All that tells you that the man is fit for cricket. If you are looking for only slim and trim guys, then you might as well go to a fashion show and pick some models and then give them a bat and ball in their hand and then include them. You have cricketers in all shapes and sizes. Don’t go by the size, but go by the runs and the wickets,” Gavaskar had told India Today.
The decision to play Suryakumar Yadav in the Tests against Australia rather than Sarfaraz, who has been scoring a tonne of runs in first-class cricket, drew a lot of criticism from Indian fans on social media. Suryakumar Yadav has been doing well for India in limited-overs forms. Sarfaraz, though, finds inspiration in Suryakumar. For their state team Mumbai, the two have a lengthy history of playing together. “Surya is a very good friend of mine. Whenever we are in the same team, we spend a lot of time together. I learn a lot from him. Yes, he had to wait, but now he is using his experience very well,” Sarfaraz Khan said in an interview with senior journalist Vimal Kumar.
Speaking on his preparation and his outlook towards the game, Sarfaraz said: “I only focus on hard work. I believe in doing as much hard work as possible. Whatever I have been following, I look to continue that. When I went out to bat, I wanted to repeat what I have been doing for the last few years. I am a person who is attached to the ground. I practice a lot, and that’s why my form is continuing.”
