“It’s a real shame” - Ex-Indian cricketer slams selection committee for ignoring Sarfaraz Khan across formats

Former Indian cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar has expressed disappointment with the Indian selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, for constantly omitting Sarfaraz Khan across formats despite performing well in domestic cricket.

Playing for Mumbai, Sarfaraz Khan has been in sublime form, scoring a 157-run knock against Goa in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 game. In the just concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 campaign, the middle-order batter amassed 329 runs from seven innings at an average of 65.8 with a century and three half-centuries.

Speaking exclusively to The Times of India, Vengsarkar has asserted that he couldn’t see a proper reason why the middle-order batter is constantly being omitted from the squad despite being a good enough player to play across formats of the game.

“You know, the thing is, it’s really baffling for me why he’s not picked in any format for India when he has done so well consistently, even for India when he got an opportunity. I watched him and (Devdutt) Padikkal batting together against England in Dharamshala. It was a crucial session. They batted beautifully and forged an important partnership, which ultimately helped India win the Test match,” Vengsarkar told The Times of India," Vengsarkar said to Times of India.

“And after that home series against England, he didn’t get another opportunity to play a Test. Of course, he was on the tour of Australia for the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but he wasn’t given a chance at all, and that really baffles me because he’s a good enough player to play in all formats of the game. Such a talent has been ignored and neglected. It’s a real shame,” he added.

After being part of the New Zealand series at home in 2024, Sarfaraz was selected for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under, but couldn’t get a chance in the XI. Later, he was axed from the squad without a proper reason from the selection committee.

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