Ajit Agarkar explains why Karun Nair was preferred over Sarfaraz Khan in India’s Test squad for England tour

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In a historic shift for Indian cricket, Shubman Gill has been named the new captain of India’s Test team following the retirement of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the longest format. The selectors unveiled an 18-member squad for the upcoming five-match Test series in England, marking the beginning of a new chapter with a youthful core and a few familiar faces.

Gill, who has impressed with his consistency and temperament, will shoulder the responsibility of leading a relatively young group in challenging English conditions. The squad includes experienced campaigners like Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah, but also features promising names such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, and wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar addressed the media in Mumbai to shed light on some notable exclusions from the squad, particularly Sarfaraz Khan, who was expected by many to find a place in the Test setup. Agarkar explained that Sarfaraz’s omission was based on a strategic decision by the team management and not a reflection of his potential.

“Sometimes you just have to make good decisions. Sarfaraz, I know he got a 100 in the first Test (150 vs New Zealand in Bengaluru) and then didn’t get runs. Sometimes, it’s the decisions the team management takes,” said Agarkar in the presser.

Agarkar further added that the selection of Karun Nair over Sarfaraz was due to Nair’s recent performances and valuable red-ball experience.

“At the moment, Karun has scored heaps of runs in domestic, has played a bit of Test cricket, played a bit of county cricket. With Virat not there, clearly we’re lacking a bit of experience. We felt his experience could help,” he explained.

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Despite the absence of legends Rohit and Kohli, Indian cricket fans are optimistic about the fresh direction under Gill’s captaincy. The five-match series in England is widely seen as a litmus test for the next generation of Indian cricketers.

With a mixture of youth and experience, supporters are hopeful that India’s new-look squad can deliver solid performances overseas—especially in a country where subcontinent teams have traditionally struggled. Social media buzz reflects enthusiasm for players like Jaiswal and Sudharsan stepping up, and many believe this transition could mark the beginning of another dominant era for India in Test cricket.

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