Why does Sarfaraz Khan deserve a chance in SL vs IND 2nd Test?
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Sarfaraz Khan did not play the 1st SL vs IND Test.
India are in Sri Lanka for a Test series comprising two matches. The first Test concluded on August 19 with India emerging triumphant, defeating the hosts by 165 runs. The second Test is scheduled to start on August 23, to be played at the SSC Cricket Ground in Colombo.
Shubman Gill and Co. delivered a complete team performance with match-winning knocks from Devdutt Padikkal and KL Rahul, and exceptional bowling from Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja.
Devdutt Padikkal was named the Player of the Match for scoring 211 runs in the match, while Suthar claimed his maiden 10-wicket haul in just his second Test. Jadeja also entered the record books with his 350th Test wicket.
The visitors would aim to turn this win into a clean sweep in their second fixture at Colombo. For the same, the team could make some changes in the line-up, especially the batting department.
Why Sarfaraz Khan should play SL vs IND 2nd Test
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Ahead of the series, Sai Sudharsan, India’s designated No.3 batter, was ruled out of the series due to an injury he sustained during the unofficial Tests. Following this, Sarfaraz Khan was named his replacement in the squad.
It is after almost two years that Sarfaraz earned a spot in the Test squad. He last featured in the home Test series against New Zealand in 2024, where he scored 171 runs in 6 innings, with one 150-run score. He was also a part of the squad for Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 but did not play any game.
In the period when he missed out on international cricket, he did exceptionally well in all the domestic tournaments across formats. He amassed 429 runs in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, with an average of 53.6, including a magnificent 227-run knock against Hyderabad. In Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 as well, he smashed the fastest List A half-century by an Indian (off 20 balls).
Additionally, India’s current No.6 batter Dhruv Jurel failed to score well in the second innings of the 1st Test, when India needed to accelerate the innings. He had a poor performance in the 3-day warm-up game as well, scoring merely 18 runs.
On the contrary, Sarfaraz is an explosive batter who can switch gears according to the game situation. He is an exceptional player of spin. In the first Test, one could see how Sri Lanka’s batters used the square of the wicket and deployed the sweep shots; from India, Sarfaraz is one such player who could make use of this technique.
India being in a strong position in the series could try Sarfaraz at No.6. This would not just induce confidence in the player, but also acknowledge the efforts put in by the domestic cricket performers.
Will Sarfaraz Khan play the 2nd SL vs IND Test?
There is a possibility that Sarfaraz Khan gets a chance for the 2nd Test.
When is India’s 2nd Test against Sri Lanka?
The 2nd Test against Sri Lanka is scheduled to begin on August 23.
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Cricket runs in the blood of Indians — and that’s something she truly believes in. A law student with a lifelong connection to the game, she has followed cricket passionately since his school days. Like countless young fans, she first experienced the sport on the field before deepening his understanding through constant watching, reading, and conversations around the game. Writing became a natural extension of that passion, bringing a “Pavilion Perspective” to his work — capturing how fans experience matches through their own lens.