Unveiling the Controversial Test Player Evaluation: The Inside Story of Indian Cricket Selection Committee

Following the loss in the WTC final, the Indian cricket team is scheduled to embark on a tour of the West Indies starting July 12. Meanwhile, India's Test and ODI squad was announced last Friday. Notably, Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been a key player in the Test format, has been omitted from the team. Instead, Yashasvi Jaiswal from Mumbai and Ruturaj Gaikwad from Maharashtra have been given an opportunity to prove their mettle.

Despite the number-3 position being vacant, Sarfaraz Khan, who is considered one of the top batsmen in domestic cricket, was not included in the team. Over the past three years, Sarfaraz, 25, has consistently performed exceptionally well in both the Ranji Trophy and other domestic cricket matches. With an impressive average of 80 runs in domestic cricket, it seems puzzling why Ishan Kishan (with an average of 38) and Ruturaj (with an average of 42) were given opportunities in the Test team before him. This situation begs the question: why isn't Sarfaraz Khan being given a chance to showcase his skills?

Exceptional performance in the first class
Sarfaraz Khan, a brilliant performer in first-class cricket, has been making waves with his exceptional batting skills. With an impressive average of 92.66 runs in 6 matches during the last Ranji season, he has consistently delivered outstanding performances over the past three Ranji seasons. In the 2019-20 season, Sarfaraz ranked among the top-5 scorers after playing just 6 matches, showcasing his exceptional talent. Furthermore, he emerged as the leading scorer in the prestigious Ranji Trophy during the 2021-22 season. Due to his remarkable achievements in first-class cricket, Sarfaraz earned a well-deserved opportunity to represent India-A. However, despite his consistent excellence on the field, his long-awaited inclusion in Team India seems to be a distant dream that continues to elude him.

In every aspect of Test cricket, Sarfaraz outperforms Ruturaj Gaikwad
According to statistics, Ruturaj Gaikwad, the opener from Maharashtra, has been included in the Test team. However, Sarfaraz Khan has consistently outperformed him. While Gaikwad has an average of 42.19 in first-class cricket, Sarfaraz boasts a remarkable double of 79.65. Surprisingly, Gaikwad was not given a chance to play for the India A team during their tour of Bangladesh in December 2022. Despite this, Gaikwad made it into the team while a talented player like Sarfaraz was left out.

Ishan Kishan got the place in Test Cricket Team
The regular wicketkeeper of the test team, Rishabh Pant, is currently out of action due to a car accident. In his absence, KS Bharat has taken over the responsibility of wicketkeeping. However, Ishan Kishan has also been consistently included in the team. When compared to Sarfaraz, Ishan falls short in terms of performance. In 48 first-class matches, Ishan has scored 2985 runs with an average of only 38.76. This includes 6 centuries and 16 fifties. On the other hand, Sarfaraz Khan has scored 3505 runs in just 37 first-class matches, including 13 centuries. His average is also twice as high as that of Ishan's.

Yashasvi and Sarfaraz's performances are equally impressive, but Yashasvi stands out in terms of Test Team Placement
In addition to Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal from Mumbai has also been selected for the Test and ODI team. Yashasvi, who is an opener in the IPL as well as domestic cricket, has showcased impressive performances in both arenas. He managed to accumulate 315 runs across 5 matches during the previous Ranji season. Furthermore, he exhibited his talent during a Test match for India A against Bangladesh in December last year, achieving a century. Jaiswal's young age and consistent success in the Ranji and IPL have led to his inclusion in the Test team for the West Indies tour. Despite Sarfarz Kha's noteworthy performances in the recent domestic cricket season, it is Yashasvi who has secured a place on the national team.

Position Number three is vacant, although four openers have been selected
Cheteshwar Pujara's absence from the Test team lineup against West Indies has left the number three position in Team India up for grabs. In order to fill this void, Yashasvi and Gaikwad, who are openers, have been included in the Test team alongside Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. The Test team is currently in need of a strong middle-order batsman, and Sarfaraz is a strong contender for this role. Having performed exceptionally well in domestic cricket as a middle-order batsman, Sarfaraz would be the ideal choice to replace Pujara at number three.

Sarfaraz did not get proper chances in IPL
Sarfaraz Khan had limited opportunities in the IPL. With Delhi Capitals, he was able to participate in only 4 out of the 14 matches during the season. On the other hand, Yashasvi, Gaikwad, and Ishan Kishan played in all of their teams' matches in the IPL and showcased impressive performances. Given this scenario, one can infer that selectors are now taking IPL performance into account when making selections for Team India.

Conclusion
Sarfaraz Khan, an exceptional performer in first-class cricket, has been garnering attention with his outstanding batting skills. With an impressive average of 92.66 runs in 6 matches during the previous Ranji season, he has consistently delivered exceptional performances throughout the last three Ranji seasons. In the 2019-20 season, Sarfaraz ranked among the top-5 scorers after participating in just 6 matches. Moreover, he emerged as the highest scorer in the Ranji Trophy during the 2021-22 season. Despite consistently showcasing his excellence on the field, Sarfaraz Khan has not been given a single opportunity to demonstrate his skills in the national Team.