The BCCI announced the India squad for the first two Test matches of the four-match series against Australia on Friday. Notably, the board cricket governing body also announced the squad for upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand that will kick off on January 18 before India host Australia in the longest format. Prithvi Shaw, following his excellent run with the bat in the domestic circuit, was recalled to the side for the New Zealand T20Is, while Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan received maiden Test call ups.
Fans on social media fumed at the selection committee for leaving out Sarfaraz Khan for the first two Australia Tests and picking up Suryakumar Yadav instead.
In the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy, Sarfaraz scored 982 runs at an average of 122.75 with four centuries and two half-centuries. His highest score was 275. Meanwhile, the ongoing edition sees him amass 431 runs at an average of 107.75 and a strike-rate of 70.54 with two centuries, one half-century.
However, the Indian cricket team selection committee decided to give Suryakumar Yadav a chance in India's Test squad, considering the player's sensational form in white-ball formats, especially T20I cricket.
It has not gone down well with the fans though. Here is how they reacted to the selection:
India squad for first two Tests vs Australia
Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav.