Is Sarfaraz Khan being ignored because he lacks brand value/marketability?

[Zero_Unit]

4 hours ago, vvvslaxman said:

 

Pant himself is overweight. In all likelihood he will be more fat when he comes back. I don't think any one of us will raise that as an issue. At this point he shuld be allowed to fail before discarding. Bangladesh series was the perfect series. We sent our eggsperienced players to stat pad. It backfired big time at Mirpur.

From my understanding, don't the players need to pass yo-yo test to play in the national team? I am assuming pant also needs to do similar test?

 

One good thing about virat is he changed the way athletes is supposed to look (in India). It's good to have that kind of a role model. This was unheard of before Virat (in Asian countries). Most looked like "uncle body" or malnourished af.

 

Just look at the previous Asian teams and even current ones, lol. SL players, Pak players (Azam Khan - lmaoo), BD players (apart from Taskin).

Edited June 26, 2023 by Zero_Unit

[nevada]

They should have at-least picked him in the squad. Snubbing him like this is not cool. What kind of a message will this send to other domestic players? It looks like IPL is the deciding factor for test match selection also. Makes no sense whatsoever. 

[Lord]

3 hours ago, Zero_Unit said:

From my understanding, don't the players need to pass yo-yo test to play in the national team? I am assuming pant also needs to do similar test?

 

One good thing about virat is he changed the way athletes is supposed to look (in India). It's good to have that kind of a role model. This was unheard of before Virat (in Asian countries). Most looked like "uncle body" or malnourished af.

 

Just look at the previous Asian teams and even current ones, lol. SL players, Pak players (Azam Khan - lmaoo), BD players (apart from Taskin).

Yo yo test was scrapped as soon as Rohit took over for obvious reasons

[Nikhil_cric]

Forget Sarfaraz. The Kohli - Pujara duo has to go. What other domestic options are there apart from Sarfaraz? Why did it take so long to replace him ? Are there no batsmen scoring runs in Ranji and on A tours?  

 

Pujara has scored only 1 ton in 4.5 years and averages 29.98 across his last 35 tests.  I don't care about his strike rate but he simply can't score runs anymore. 

 

Rahane in his previous 53 Tests(not including WTC final) was averaging a paltry 32 with the bat . And although he did perform in the WTC final why was a 35 year old with such a poor record over a long period selected? i'd rather fail with a youngster than keep selecting TTF oldies.

 

Virat is also averaging sub 30 since 2020. And that's including a 186 against Australia on a dodo pitch created by Ahmedabad curator to ensure that Australia don't win.

 

Surely Sarfaraz, or any domestic bully,  is better than at least one of them on current form?

 

 

Edited June 27, 2023 by Nikhil_cric

[rollingstoned]

Second only to Bradman: Sarfaraz Khan's mind-boggling numbers as India selectors continue to ignore Mumbai star

ByRohit Mundayur

Jun 26, 2023 01:01 PM IST

 

Sarfaraz Khan's name was absent from India's Test squad against West Indies, leading to many wondering just what the Mumbai star needs to do for a spot.

The absence of Sarfaraz Khan's name in the Indian squad for their upcoming two-Test series in the West Indies created quite an extraordinary flutter in the Indian cricketing circles, especially considering the batter is yet to make his international debut at any level. While the biggest headline may have been veteran Cheteshwar Pujara getting the drop, Sarfaraz's absence has pretty much been just as much an issue with the likes of batting great Sunil Gavaskar effectively stating that India missed an opportunity by not letting players like him make a Test debut in a series against a side who are no longer the force they used to be.

 

Sarfaraz Khan has been on fire ever since he returned to Mumbai after a year playing for Uttar Pradesh. (PTI)

While it may be perilous to write off an opposition side even before the start of a series, the recent history of bilaterals between India and the West Indies shows that there is some weightage to former players stating that this would have been a good chance to test youngsters. West Indies' last victory against in India in any Test series came back in 2002. Since then, India have won every series played between the two sides, regardless of whether it was played at home or in the Carribean.

 

Sarfaraz's second Mumbai coming

He may only be 25 but Sarfaraz was already deemed as a lost cause not too long ago. He had moved to Uttar Pradesh to play for the state domestic team, away from his beloved Mumbai. The move hadn't reaped dividends and, according to ESPNCricinfo, Sarfaraz told He smashed a scintillating 155 on his UP debut but didn't play for the side too often as the season clashed with his India U19 matches going into the 2016 World Cup. After two seasons with the team, he told his father and coach Naushad that he will now either play for Mumbai or leave cricket altogether, according to ESPNCricinfo. This led to him having to take a one-year cooling off period before confirming the move.

To last in the experienced Mumbai lineup which often included the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Suryakumar Yadav, Aditya Tare and Siddhesh Lad, Sarfaraz checked his attacking game and impressed with an unbeaten 71 against Karnataka in the second innings of a match in January 2020.

 

After that, came the runs. In that season (2019/20), he made scores of 301, 226 not out, 78 and 177 and ended up piling on 928 runs for a whopping average of nearly 155. Next season (2021/22), Sarfaraz amassed 982 runs in just nine innings at an average of 122.75. In the Ranji season that went by, Sarfaraz scored 556 runs in six innings at an average of 92.66.

Sarfaraz's first class figures currently stand at 3505 runs scored in 37 matches at an average of 79.65 and an impressive strike rate of 70.21. He has scored 13 centuries and nine half centuries. This is where the headline catching statistic of him being the best since Bradman comes - Sarfaraz's average is the second highest in the history of first class batters who have played at least 50 innings. The highest, of course, is the legendary Don Bradman himself, who maintained a mind bogging average of 95.14 across 338 innings, scoring 28,067 runs with 117 centuries and 69 half centuries. The players ranked below Sarfaraz include the likes of Vijay Merchant, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith and Martin Crowe among other greats of the game.

[tweaker]

There would be huge pressure on Ruturaj to prove his selection over Sarfaraz

[BacktoCricaddict]

3 hours ago, tweaker said:

There would be huge pressure on Ruturaj to prove his selection over Sarfaraz

Aren't they fighting for different spots, though?  Gaikwad is probably there as a back-up top 3, whereas Sarfaraz would've replaced Rahane or Kohli.

[tweaker]

22 minutes ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

Aren't they fighting for different spots, though?  Gaikwad is probably there as a back-up top 3, whereas Sarfaraz would've replaced Rahane or Kohli.

There is already one opener as backup.for Gill and Rohit.There was no need for fourth opener for 2 test series.

 

The selectors are ensuring there are no back up for Rahane and Virat.

[Sean Bradley]

No, Sarfaraz is ignored due to his on and off field antics, showing middle fingers to selectors sitting in the stand after a century has not augured well for his chances. Agree that hes a good test bat and must have been considered for a Test cap, but his attitude has certainly not helped him.

 

Imagine this kind of a situation in another fields of life. A corporate employee who has not received promotion inspite of being a great performer for the past 2 years. Suddenly he receives an appreciation mail from one of the most esteemed clients. What does that employee do next? he replies all on the email where his boss is also marked and sends a   to all of them. 

 

Will this kind of behaviour be accepted anywhere, i highly doubt. 

[wazza]

17 hours ago, Strangering said:

Fitness. Fatness neglectors shouldn't be allowed to play for the national side. Including Rohit, Pant etc

Pant is fit man. 

Pant runs k's. He passes the yo you test easy.

[wazza]

54 minutes ago, sarchasm said:

Rinku's absence is a bigger debacle. A made-to-order left handed number 5.

 

As to OP's point, are Umesh, Pujara, or even Rahane particularly marketable?

Umesh ? Could be like east Indian hunk

Rahane ? Karate kid

Pujara? The rock of India. He can take countless blows. 

 

Sarfraz? Maybe for a ladoo or peda ad. Milk sweets. 

[vvvslaxman]

22 minutes ago, Sean Bradley said:

No, Sarfaraz is ignored due to his on and off field antics, showing middle fingers to selectors sitting in the stand after a century has not augured well for his chances. Agree that hes a good test bat and must have been considered for a Test cap, but his attitude has certainly not helped him.

 

Imagine this kind of a situation in another fields of life. A corporate employee who has not received promotion inspite of being a great performer for the past 2 years. Suddenly he receives an appreciation mail from one of the most esteemed clients. What does that employee do next? he replies all on the email where his boss is also marked and sends a   to all of them. 

 

Will this kind of behaviour be accepted anywhere, i highly doubt. 

 

Kohli would have done far worse if he was never backed at all. It is the duty of selectors to inject players at the right time. There were so many matches against weaker sides. But our failed trio kept on finding the place somehow.

[nevada]

44 minutes ago, wazza said:

Umesh ? Could be like east Indian hunk

Rahane ? Karate kid

Pujara? The rock of India. He can take countless blows. 

 

Sarfraz? Maybe for a ladoo or peda ad. Milk sweets. 

Sarfu can do KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonalds ads. "His appetite for food is as big as his appetite for runs" can be the tagline. 

Edited June 27, 2023 by nevada

[Lord]

7 hours ago, Sean Bradley said:

No, Sarfaraz is ignored due to his on and off field antics, showing middle fingers to selectors sitting in the stand after a century has not augured well for his chances. Agree that hes a good test bat and must have been considered for a Test cap, but his attitude has certainly not helped him.

 

Imagine this kind of a situation in another fields of life. A corporate employee who has not received promotion inspite of being a great performer for the past 2 years. Suddenly he receives an appreciation mail from one of the most esteemed clients. What does that employee do next? he replies all on the email where his boss is also marked and sends a   to all of them. 

 

Will this kind of behaviour be accepted anywhere, i highly doubt. 

No he didn't show middle finger. He pointed towards Salil Ankola, I doubt he was a selector then

[Trichromatic]

8 hours ago, Sean Bradley said:

No, Sarfaraz is ignored due to his on and off field antics, showing middle fingers to selectors sitting in the stand after a century has not augured well for his chances. Agree that hes a good test bat and must have been considered for a Test cap, but his attitude has certainly not helped him.

 

Imagine this kind of a situation in another fields of life. A corporate employee who has not received promotion inspite of being a great performer for the past 2 years. Suddenly he receives an appreciation mail from one of the most esteemed clients. What does that employee do next? he replies all on the email where his boss is also marked and sends a   to all of them. 

 

Will this kind of behaviour be accepted anywhere, i highly doubt. 

 

Selectors are not boss.

[Sean Bradley]

8 hours ago, Trichromatic said:

 

Selectors are not boss.

 

Doesnt take anything to show humility and respect. Not like hes a child prodigy or an earth shattering talent this country has ever produced. At best he can replace Pujara in the Team and even thats not guaranteed. 

 

 

9 hours ago, Lord said:

No he didn't show middle finger. He pointed towards Salil Ankola, I doubt he was a selector then

Maybe not the middle finger, but he did point fingers and was animated is what i read in the news reports. Anyways, my point is he should be patient and wait for his turn, and not show agitation and gestures towards anyone, quietly go about his Business, that will help his chances. 

[diga]

After a long time, I enjoyed Sid Monga's reading of Sarfaraz situation... 

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/why-is-sarfaraz-khan-not-being-selected-in-india-test-squad-1384618

 

Quite an insight about Indian selectors ignoring batsmen batting below no-4 position from a long time

[vvvslaxman]

6 hours ago, Sean Bradley said:

 

Doesnt take anything to show humility and respect. Not like hes a child prodigy or an earth shattering talent this country has ever produced. At best he can replace Pujara in the Team and even thats not guaranteed. 

 

 

Maybe not the middle finger, but he did point fingers and was animated is what i read in the news reports. Anyways, my point is he should be patient and wait for his turn, and not show agitation and gestures towards anyone, quietly go about his Business, that will help his chances. 

 

I don't think he showed middle finger. It was just bat pointing in the direction of selectors. Selectors have zero rights for not backing a player for that. And he was a child prodigy.

 

https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/sarfaraz-khan-the-story-of-the-india-under-19-prodigy-31397

[nevada]

5 hours ago, diga said:

After a long time, I enjoyed Sid Monga's reading of Sarfaraz situation... 

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/why-is-sarfaraz-khan-not-being-selected-in-india-test-squad-1384618

 

Quite an insight about Indian selectors ignoring batsmen batting below no-4 position from a long time

Given how underwhelming our long term # 5 Rahane has been, Sarfraz seems like a nice upgrade. Our batting has been **** for years with regular bailouts from the lower order turning series in our favor. The likes of Sarfraz, Iyer, and even Mayank can at-least help us put up big totals at home. Our oldies are so washed up that they can't do that also. Even if the selectors want to put an end to the Sarfraz story, they should select him and let him fail before discarding him. He has earned the right to play for India with his consistency. When SKY was first selected, many people didn't like his selection but agreed that he had earned the right. Sarfraz is at a similar stage now. 

[vvvslaxman]

5 hours ago, diga said:

After a long time, I enjoyed Sid Monga's reading of Sarfaraz situation... 

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/why-is-sarfaraz-khan-not-being-selected-in-india-test-squad-1384618

 

Quite an insight about Indian selectors ignoring batsmen batting below no-4 position from a long time

 

Everyone is inventing reasons as far as i can tell. Rahane bats at 5 most of the time. Heck even Sachin batted at no.5 for 30 tests. Ganguly/Azharuddin to name a few more. If anything being an opener it is harder to find the spot with Gill/Rohit/Rahul taking up the spots. and Kohli at no.4 Pujara at no.3