IND A vs NZ A: Ranji Trophy run machine Sarfaraz Khan is expected to be one of the first names on the sheet when the Chetan Sharma-led selection committee names the India A squad for their series against New Zealand. Khan has been a prolific run-scorer in Ranji Trophy for the past two seasons and is on the brink of an India call-up. The 24-year-old is expected to be called up for the series against Bangladesh and the India A vs New Zealand A will be a huge test for him for a senior debut. Follow Indian cricket live updates on Insidesport.IN
IND A vs NZ A: Impressed selectors set to call up Sarfaraz Khan for India A series, likely to get NOD for Bangladesh tour in December, Check OUT
Sarfaraz Khan has scored nearly 2000 runs in his last two Ranji Trophy seasons and the Mumbai batsman will be in action during the IND A vs NZ A series. The 24-year-old was picked during India A’s tour of South Africa last year but did not enjoy fruitful returns. Sarfaraz only had two chances at the crease, scoring an unbeaten 71 and a paltry 14 while the likes of Priyank Panchal and Hanuma Vihari scored centuries.
Sarfaraz Khan was ignored for the home Test series against Sri Lanka even as Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were dropped. Indian management opted to go with Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer and the duo were duly retained alongside Pujara for the England Test.
Sarfaraz Khan in Ranji Trophy
| Ranji Trophy | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
| 2019/20 season | 9 | 3 | 928 | 301* | 154.66 | 78.64 | 3 | 2 | 112 | 22 |
| 2021/22 season | 9 | 1 | 982 | 275 | 122.75 | 69.54 | 4 | 2 | 93 | 19 |
IND A vs NZ A: Impressed selectors set to call up Sarfaraz Khan for India A series, likely to get NOD for Bangladesh tour in December, Check OUT
While Sarfaraz Khan’s talent and form have never been in question it is his fitness and the competition for places in the Indian team that has denied him chances. The talk about his fitness doesn’t bother him and Sarfaraz in a previous interaction with Insidesport suggested being on the ground for 4 days was no mean feat.
He added, “I feel that I have made a good improvement in fitness. I have improved a lot compared to how I was in 2015. I have also taken very good catches in the last Ranji match. I am trying my best and when the off-season comes, I will focus more on it and try to put myself in a better position than before.
I have started understanding my body very well and the runs are also getting good. Staying on the ground for 4 days is not that easy and I am fielding well in every match,” Sarfaraz had said before the Ranji Trophy final.
IND A vs NZ A: Impressed selectors set to call up Sarfaraz Khan for India A series, likely to get NOD for Bangladesh tour in December, Check OUT
He followed it up with a majestic ton in the final even though Mumbai couldn’t add to their record 41 titles. The performance catapulted him into the selection talk with a well-placed BCCI source suggesting that it was almost impossible to keep him out.
The moment when Sarfaraz Khan reached his ton v Saurashtra in Ahmedabad pic.twitter.com/KXiwEm92wc
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) February 17, 2022
“It’s impossible to overlook him now. He will be a certainty when the selectors pick the Indian team for the Bangladesh Tests” a reliable source in the BCCI told TOI.
The two-match Test series against Bangladesh is scheduled for December later this year. Sarfaraz Khan will hope that he can run under his belt during the A series against New Zealand and keep him in the hunt for a maiden international call-up.
IND A vs NZ A: Impressed selectors set to call up Sarfaraz Khan for India A series, likely to get NOD for Bangladesh tour in December, Check OUT
Editors pick
