Sunil Gavaskar tells Sarfaraz Khan to stop playing Ranji Trophy after India snub for WI tour

Sarfaraz Khan has scored 3505 runs in 37 first-class matches at an average of 79.65.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has criticized selectors for ignoring Sarfaraz Khan for two Tests in the West Indies next month. He also said that playing Ranji Trophy is a waste for Sarfaraz if his performances are not recognized.

The BCCI selection committee headed by Shiv Sunder Das named the Indian squad for the Test and ODI series in the Caribbean which saw veterans Cheteshwar Pujara and Umesh Yadav being dropped and Ajinkya Rahane becoming the vice-captain of the side once again.

The selection panel also picked new faces in Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad to bolster the batting and Mukesh Kumar and Navdeep Saini, whose last Test for India came in Gabba in 2021, to give sustenance to Indian bowling.

Mohammad Shami was rested from both Tests and ODIs, while Mohammed Siraj will lead the pacer attack with Shardul Thakur and Jaydev Unadkat.

What does Sarfaraz Khan has to do to be picked in the squad? - Sunil Gavaskar

The Indian batting legend questioned the rationale behind leaving Sarfaraz Khan out who has been scoring heavily in Ranji Trophy for the last 2-3 seasons. If players in the Test team are still chosen exclusively based on their results in the Indian Premier League (IPL), he said, there is no need to continue the Ranji Trophy competition.

Speaking to India Today, Gavaskar said: “Sarfaraz Khan has been scoring at an average of 100 in all past three seasons. What does he have to do to be picked in the squad? He might not be in the XI, but you pick him in the team."

Sarfaraz amassed 556 runs in six games at an average of 92.66 in the 2022–23 Ranji Trophy, including three centuries. The right-handed batter had scored 982 runs at an average of 122.75 in the 2021–22 Ranji season, including four tons.

So far, Sarfaraz Khan has scored 3505 runs in 37 first-class matches at an average of 79.65, including 13 centuries.

"Tell him that his performances are being recognized. Otherwise, stop playing Ranji Trophy. Say, it’s of no use, you just play IPL and think you are good enough for the red ball game as well,” Gavaskar added.

India’s Test squad for West Indies tests:

Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini.