EXPLAINED: Why Sarfaraz Khan was left out of India’s squad for the West Indies Test series

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced India’s 15-member squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed the team during a press conference held in Dubai. The squad, while seeming well-balanced, once again notably omitted the name of Sarfaraz Khan, continuing a trend that has puzzled fans and pundits alike.

Putting all speculation to rest, chief selector Agarkar confirmed that Sarfaraz’s absence from the Test squad is due to a quadriceps injury. The talented middle-order batter is currently recovering at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE), where he is undergoing rehabilitation to regain full fitness.

“He is injured.” Agarkar was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times

This official statement provides clarity after weeks of reports claiming the cricketer would be fit in time for the series. However, as it turns out, the 27-year-old is yet to fully recover and might require more time. The fact that Sarfaraz was also not named in the Rest of India squad for the Irani Trophy further confirms that the selectors have a clear understanding of his recovery timeline and want to give him ample time to heal without rushing his return to competitive cricket.

Also READ: Ajit Agarkar explains Karun Nair’s omission from India’s Test squad for West Indies series

Sarfaraz’s non-selection for the West Indies series is a familiar theme, as he was also controversially left out of the squad for the preceding Test series against England. This came as a surprise to many, especially after he was a permanent member of the Indian side following his Test debut against England in 2024.

Sarfaraz has so far played six Tests, amassing 371 runs at a solid average of 37.1, including a century and three fifties. After traveling to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he didn’t get an opportunity in the playing XI and then found himself sidelined. Now, with the injury confirmed, the hope is that Sarfaraz will regain full fitness and once again make a strong case for selection through performances in the upcoming Ranji Trophy for Mumbai.

Also READ: BCCI unveils India’s squad for the Test series against West Indies; Devdutt Padikkal returns