BCCI Snubs Sarfaraz Khan Again, Decision Triggers Huge Social Media Storm
Sarfaraz Khan was surprisingly snubbed by the BCCI for the 2-match red-ball series between India A and South Africa A.
- Sarfaraz Khan was omitted from the India A squad despite strong recent performances
- Mohammed Shami was also excluded from the red-ball India A squad
- Fans flooded the internet, criticising BCCI for not selecting Sarfaraz
There was no place for the ever-consistent middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the India A squads for the two matches against South Africa A on Tuesday. Rishabh Pant, recovering from a fractured foot sustained during the Manchester Test earlier this year, was named the captain of the India A team, with Sai Sudharsan being his deputy. The likes of Devdutt Padikkal, Ayush Mhatre, Rajat Patidar, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, etc., were picked by the selection committee, but Sarfaraz was surprisingly snubbed.
Sarfaraz's omission from the red-ball India A team is quite baffling, considering he played well in the England tour for the India A team, scoring 92 runs in the first unofficial match. An injury forced him out of the team, but the middle-order batter used that time to improve his fitness.
Sarfaraz went on to lose considerable weight and returned to the Ranji Trophy, where he recently produced a 74-run knock for Mumbai. Yet, there was no place for him in the India A squad.
Here's how fans reacted to BCCI's snub of Sarfaraz Khan on social media:
Feel for Sarfaraz Khan...!!!!!Â
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 21, 2025
He played in the England tour for India A team, scored 92 runs in first unofficial match but then out of the picture due to injury - improved his fitness, lost lots weight returned to Ranji Trophy (made important 74 runs) but no place in the… pic.twitter.com/cLnMWBipcA
Meet Sarfaraz Khan:
— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) October 21, 2025
- he avg 65+ in FC,
- he did great vs Eng in his debit series when India were 0-1 down,
- he scored 150 runs 2 tests ago,
- reduced 17 kg weight
- passed yoyo test
Not picked for Ind-A, another career destroyed by Agarkar & Gambhir!!pic.twitter.com/W6BnG7cceJ
Sarfaraz Khan Again Getting Targeted By @BCCI..!!!!
— (@Indian_Storms) October 21, 2025
He played in the England tour for India A team, scored 92 runs in first unofficial match but then out of the picture due to injury - improved his fitness, lost lots weight returned to Ranji Trophy (made important 74 runs) But… pic.twitter.com/39SN4ZhWv7
Sarfaraz Khan doesn't fit into India A side for Tests. Let that sink in pic.twitter.com/PtHpjmnXR1
— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) October 21, 2025
Sarfaraz Khan scored 92 for India A vs England Lions, then got injured. Came back fitter, lighter, made 74 in Ranji. Still no spot in the India A squad. Tough one to take pic.twitter.com/ls6gOJdaP6
— Soaib Akhtar (@SSA_807) October 21, 2025
Mohammed Shami, another India star who is striving hard to make a comeback to the national team, didn't find a place in the Indian team for the red-ball assignment too.
Rishabh Pant to Captain India A Team
The fit-again Rishabh Pant, meanwhile, has been named the India A captain for the red-ball matches against South Africa A. KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and Dhruv Jurel will join the squad after the conclusion of the three-match ODI series against Australia in the second match. N. Jagadeesan is the second wicketkeeper choice in the squad, while Rajat Patidar has also been added to the squad after his double century in the first match of the ongoing Ranji Trophy against Punjab.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, and Akash Deep will also join the squad for the second match.
India's batting line-up includes Ayush Mhatre, Devdutt Padikkal, and Ayush Badoni. The squad also included three all-rounders: Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, and Manav Suthar. Anshul Kamboj and Yash Thakur will lead the pace attack in the first match, while Saransh Jain will lead the spin department.
With ANI Inputs