Sarfaraz Khan (PTI Photo)
Quizzed about what keeps him motivated despite repeatedly being overlooked, the 29-year-old said he often finds himself questioning the effort he puts in every day. Why should I wake up at 5 am (for practice)? He was also part of the squad for India’s 2024-25 tour of Australia but did not get a game Down Under.
MUMBAI: The shrug of the shoulder said it all when Sarfaraz Khan was asked about his absence from the India Test set-up. So there is something or the other that keeps motivating me,” said the Mumbai batter. The latest snub came when he was overlooked for India A’s three-match tour of New Zealand. This was after he had been included in the Test squad for the Sri Lanka tour as Sai Sudharsan’s replacement. “I wake up every morning and ask myself the same question. Why should I work harder? Why do the same things? I have already played for India. So even with basic effort, I can still play for Mumbai. With that effort, I can still get those 50s and 100s. So sometimes I start questioning it (the effort). But when I see Abbu (father Naushad) putting in that effort, I think of going out there and performing for him.
And suddenly, you will not be able to perform on such a difficult wicket. .. so you can’t get more than 30-40 runs,” said Sarfaraz, who made a 100-ball 55 on Day One of Mumbai’s Group D match against Railways at the Brabourne Stadium on Monday. In 2023, he scored a 61-ball century in Pretoria, while during the 2025 England tour, he made a 76-ball 101 for India A against the Indian Test squad. I scored 300, 250, 200 and worked hard to get that opportunity,” he said.
“The selector didn’t say it directly. But when I went with the Indian team, I heard that they are looking at me more for Indian conditions. But I will question that (thinking). I have scored centuries in South Africa and England (during intra-squad matches). In India, you get such big rank turners. You struggle so much when you come from domestic cricket. The centuries Sarfaraz is referring to came during intra-squad games. One regret Sarfaraz has is not getting enough support in his push for an India spot. “Everyone knows that I don’t have support in my life. Only my father has supported me. But it’s okay. I have fulfilled my father’s dream (of me playing for India). And it’s not like I scored once or twice and immediately played for India.