"Sarfaraz Khan doesn't need India A..."- Shardul Thakur's bold statement after selectors drop Mumbai batter for A series against South Africa

Shardul Thakur and Sarfaraz Khan are part of Mumbai squad for Ranji Trophy 2025-26.

Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur believes that Sarfaraz Khan doesn’t need India A games to play test matches for Indian Cricket Team. His words came after Sarfaraz was recently snubbed from India A squad for the unofficial test series against South Africa A, scheduled to commence later this month.

Sarfaraz made his international debut in the test series against England in early 2024. He has played six test matches so far in his career, with his last appearance coming in the test series against New Zealand at home in November 2024. The right-handed batsman was picked for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25, however, he was left out of the playing XI in all five matches. After that series, he was dropped and has been awaiting his comeback to the test side.

Sarfaraz’s exclusion from India A squad came as a big surprise to some former cricketers and fans, who also slammed selectors for their decision. Expressing his opinions on the matter, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin noted that the doors for Sarfaraz’s return to Indian Cricket Team might be shut after his ouster from the India A squad.

Sarfaraz doesn’t need India A game to play international cricket: Shardul Thakur

Ahead of Mumbai’s second round in Ranji Trophy 2025-26, captain Thakur said that Sarfaraz doesn’t need to play India A games to make his comeback to the national team. Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, Thakur reckoned that Sarfaraz can directly play tests if he starts scoring again in domestic cricket.

“Nowadays, for the India A side they look at boys, who they want to prepare for international cricket. Sarfaraz doesn’t need India A game to play international cricket. If he gets back to scoring again, he can straightaway go and play Test series also,” he said.

Thakur also noted that playing for India A is not important for Sarfaraz as he is a senior professional. He also heaped praise on his Mumbai teammate for his impressive performance in Buchi Babu Trophy 2025 and the first game against Jammu & Kashmir in Ranji Trophy 2025-26.

“He is coming from injury layoff. But before that, he scored two-three centuries in the Buchi Babu Trophy before getting injured. Coming back against J& K in the previous match, he had a nice 40 (42). It was very unfortunate to have been run out. But for him, I don’t think playing India A is important. He is a senior pro and whenever we put him in there in the 22 yards, he is someone who always delivers in crunch situations,” he added.

“He has big scores of 200-250s and those innings have come when the team was two or three down quite early in the innings. To play that kind of innings under pressure, you have to have something special in you. He is one of the special players who never disappoints to perform and put up big scores. He has done it for years and years. Regardless of which number he bats, I think he will deliver,” Thakur concluded.

Meanwhile, Mumbai crushed Jammu & Kashmir by 35 runs in their first game of Ranji Trophy 2025-26, where Sarfaraz scored 42 and 32 in both innings. He got good starts but failed to convert them into big scores.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.