India vs New Zealand Tests: Can Sarfaraz Khan earn a spot in the Playing XI?

Sarfaraz Khan is making a strong case for selection in the Playing XI for the India vs New Zealand Test series at home. Team India scripted an epic whitewash in the recently concluded Test series against Bangladesh. The hosts beat Bangladesh by 280 runs in the series opener at Chepauk. The second and final Test, in Kanpur, fared even more dramatically. In a clash marred by rain, India clinched a win within just two days at the Green Park Stadium. With such dominating wins in the portfolio, the squad is not expected to change much for the India vs New Zealand series. However, in the case of Sarfaraz, who has found his way into the India squad, the middle-order batter is vying for a place in the Indian Playing XI. The ongoing Irani Cup, meanwhile, is serving as the best case in favor of Khan.

Sarfaraz Khan slams a doube ton for Mumbai at Irani Cup

Sarfaraz Khan, along with Dhruv Jurel, was released from the India squad on day four of the Kanpur Test, freeing them to join their respective Irani Cup squads. The Irani Cup this time has Mumbai clashing against the Rest of India. Sarfaraz joined the Mumbai team on the opening day of the clash. Coming to the attack for the Ajinkya Rahane-led team, Khan smashed a century. The century, his second in the Irani Cup, put him in the league of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid for smashing two tons in the domestic tournament.

Khan didn’t stop at just the 100 mark in the ongoing Test. Coming in at six after the dismissal of Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz hit a double century on day two of the match. Completing the ton in 149 balls, Khan reached the double-century mark in 253 deliveries. Subsequently, Sarfaraz became the first Mumbai player to hit a double ton in the Irani Cup. Moreover, the batter knitted a crucial 131-run partnership with skipper Ajinkya Rahane, leading Mumbai to a massive 537 runs in the first innings.

The 26-year-old debuted in first-class cricket back in 2014. Within a decade, the Mumbai-born player has smashed 15 tons in first-class cricket. Moreover, Sarfaraz Khan has converted 10 out of the 15 tons into 150-plus scores. Impressively, four out of the total tons have been converted into double centuries. Khan’s first-class trajectory is the best case put in front of the board for selection in the India squad. While the selection committee has tapped into Khan’s potential, it is yet to find a spot for the batter in the team.

Can Sarfaraz Khan enter the Playing XI for India vs New Zealand Test series?

After multiple seasons of consistent performances in the Indian domestic circuit, Sarfaraz Khan finally earned his India call-up earlier this year for the England tour of India. While the batter sat out of the playing XI for the first two Tests, Khan joined the team when KL Rahul exited the series due to an injury. There have been too many cases of a domestic hero faltering when given the Indian cap. Sarfaraz, however, proved different as he turned up with a clinical performance in his debut series.

Replacing Rahul, Sarfaraz joined the Indian middle-order in the India vs England third Test in Rajkot. The batter, in turn, smashed two half-centuries in consecutive innings of his debut match for India. As the series concluded with a 4-1 record for India, Sarfaraz Khan ended his debut tournament with three half-centuries across three matches. Consequently, as India returned to red-ball cricket with the India vs Bangladesh series, Sarfaraz Khan earned his rightful place in the India squad.

However, with KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant both back from their injuries, Sarfaraz’s place in the playing XI was sacrificed. KL Rahul earned the middle-order position in both the India vs Bangladesh Tests. While Rahul disappointed in the first match at Chepauk, the wicketkeeper-batter redeemed his form in the Kanpur Test with a half-century in the first innings. Rishabh Pant was even faster in cementing his place in the team as he slammed a century in his first Test after returning from injury. 

The three-match India vs New Zealand series will be played on home turf before India departs for the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia this year. The home conditions are likely to keep Sarfaraz Khan on the bench in the India vs New Zealand series. Moreover, with Mohammad Shami still tending to his injury, the India squad is unlikely to change for the home series. However, as India prepares for the Border Gavaskar Trophy, Khan has eyes on him to play the extra batter in the India squad in overseas conditions.