Fans expressed frustration as Sarfaraz Khan was overlooked for the 2nd IND vs ENG Test, igniting a heated debate over the selection dilemma.

The anticipation leading up to the second Test between India and England sparked intense debates among fans, deliberating whether Sarfaraz Khan or Rajat Patidar should replace the injured KL Rahul in the playing XI. Post the toss in Vishakapatnam on February 2, it appeared that Patidar had secured the spot, marking his debut.

In contrast, Sarfaraz Khan, despite consistent domestic success, remains on the periphery of international exposure, even during Team India’s persistent middle-order concerns. Notably, he was omitted from the previous home series against Australia in 2023, despite being in sublime form.

Sarfaraz, expressing patience and self-belief, reflected on his journey in a BCCI-released video ahead of the second Test against England.

“The game is all about patience. If we have to play Test cricket, we have to be patient. In life, there are times when we rush ourselves. I would get emotional about my wait to get into the team. My father would always say, keep working hard and you would be unstoppable. Having self-belief and patience are very important,” Sarfaraz said.

Fans voiced frustration as Patidar earned his national team cap over Sarfaraz, compounded by dissatisfaction with Gill and Iyer retaining their positions, leaving Sarfaraz on the sidelines. Social media platform X (formerly Twitter), was flooded with reactions expressing displeasure at Sarfaraz’s exclusion, emphasizing his impressive first-class average of 69.85, superior to Patidar’s 45.97.

Take a look at some of the fan reactions here:

Last Updated on February 2, 2024

Senior Sports Copywriter