Sarfaraz Khan reacts after India call-up for Sri Lanka Tests

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Sarfaraz Khan‘s long wait for another India opportunity finally came to an end on Sunday as the Mumbai batter earned a recall to the Test squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. The 28-year-old was named as the replacement for Sai Sudharsan, who has been ruled out of the two-match series after suffering a toe injury. India will begin the Test campaign in Galle on August 15, with Sarfaraz now set to rejoin the national setup. Sudharsan suffered the injury during India’s A tour last month and is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The board has stated that the left-hander is making significant progress and remains under the close supervision of its medical team.

The India call-up clearly meant a lot to Sarfaraz, who has spent considerable time waiting for his next opportunity despite continuing to perform consistently in domestic cricket. Soon after the announcement, Sarfaraz took to Instagram to share his reaction. The batter posted two pictures wearing India’s travelling jersey, giving fans a glimpse of his excitement after receiving the news.

One of the photographs had an added emotional touch, with Sarfaraz pictured alongside his father. The moment reflected the importance of the occasion for a player whose journey to the international stage has involved plenty of patience and persistence.

Notably, Sarfaraz has already represented India in six Tests and accumulated 372 runs in 11 innings. His international career has included a century and three half-centuries, but his last Test appearance came against New Zealand in Mumbai in 2024. Since then, he has remained on the fringes of the national setup while continuing to make a case through his performances in domestic cricket. Sarfaraz is expected to link up with the Indian squad in Colombo before the team travels to Galle for the opening Test.

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Sarfaraz’s return comes at an important stage for India as they look to strengthen their position in the World Test Championship cycle. India currently sit fifth in the WTC standings, while Sri Lanka are sixth. With the two sides separated in the table, the upcoming series presents India with an opportunity to collect valuable points and improve their chances of making another appearance in the WTC final.

For Sarfaraz, however, the immediate focus will be on making the most of his latest opportunity. After a lengthy spell away from Test cricket, his India return gives him another chance to establish himself at the highest level.

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