Sarfaraz Khan Overlooked Again, Former Selector Suggests Tactical Move to Bat at No. 3

Former national selector suggested Sarfaraz Khan should consider batting at No. 3 for Mumbai to improve his chances after being left out of India A squads.

Sarfaraz Khan was left out of both India A squads for the two first-class games against South Africa A, announced on Tuesday. The 28-year-old last played for India A in Canterbury, scoring 92 against the England Lions, and has been recovering at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Despite his recent transformation and leaner physique, the selectors and team management appear focused on established players.

Rishabh Pant, returning to form, will bat at No. 5 in both matches, while B Sai Sudharsan is trying to cement his place at No. 3. According to reports from the PTI, a former national selector believes Sarfaraz could strengthen his prospects by exploring the No. 3 position, facing the new ball, rather than batting at No. 5 or 6.

“Sarfaraz should have a chat with the Mumbai team management and also with their senior-most player Ajinkya Rahane and, maybe, try out batting at No. 3 where he might have to play the new ball. If he keeps batting at No. 5 or 6, it won’t help. India have more all-round options for those slots. Pant, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Reddy… if all are fit and available (they) will occupy the middle-order, being multi-skilled players. When Pant is injured it will be Dhruv Jurel batting at No. 5 or 6,” PTI quoted the source as saying.

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Additionally, Sarfaraz Khan’s recent struggles, including four successive failures against New Zealand on turning tracks, may have affected. With Test batting slots Nos. 1, 2, and 4 secured, and Nos. 5-8 reserved for multi-skilled players, the only available position is No. 3. Rajat Patidar and Ruturaj Gaikwad were preferred for India A, with Patidar scoring three hundreds, including a double century, and three fifties in his last eight innings. Gaikwad scored 184, 91, and 50-plus in his last three first-class matches.