Sarfaraz Khan made a compelling case for his return to the national side by scoring a blistering century off just 76 balls during an intra-squad match in Beckenham. Representing India A, the right-handed batter hammered 101 runs with the help of 15 boundaries and two towering sixes before retiring out. The explosive knock came in front of Ajit Agarkar, Chairman of Selectors, and VVS Laxman, Head of the National Cricket Academy, both of whom were present during the closed-door encounter.
Despite being excluded from India’s squad for the upcoming five-Test series against England starting June 20, Sarfaraz has been working tirelessly to make a comeback. His omission surprised many, especially after scoring 92 in the first unofficial Test against the England Lions. Previously, he had accumulated 371 runs in six Test appearances for India, averaging 37.10, with a notable 150-run knock against New Zealand in Bengaluru. However, his inconsistency in the following matches saw him dropped from the national setup.
Sarfaraz’s resilience was on full display as he fought his way back into contention by shedding 10 kilograms and training extensively against swing bowling in preparation for potential England conditions. Yet, he was left out of the final 18-man squad, a decision that raised eyebrows across the cricketing community.
In the same match, star pacer Jasprit Bumrah went wicketless and conceded five runs per over. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, however, picked up two wickets each, although Siraj struggled with economy, giving away runs at over seven per over. Nitish Kumar Reddy chipped in with one wicket by dismissing Abhimanyu Easwaran for 39.
India A finished Day 2 at 299 for 6, still trailing the India side by 160 runs. Among other contributors, Sai Sudharsan added 38 off 60 deliveries with seven fours, while Ishan Kishan played a steady hand with 45 runs from 55 balls.
On Day 1, the senior India team batted first, with both KL Rahul and Shubman Gill scoring half-centuries, getting their series preparations off to a positive start.
