Former Australia spinner Brad Hogg has explained the reason behind Sarfaraz Khan not earning a spot in India’s squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against West Indies.

The selectors’ decision of not picking the batsman in the squad has caused quite a stir in the Indian cricket fraternity. Fans and several experts have not only slammed the selectors for their decision but have also accused them of not giving importance to Ranji Trophy, India’s premier first-class competition.

Sarfaraz Khan has been one of the best performers in Ranji Trophy in the last few seasons. He has scored centuries for fun in red-ball cricket. In the last three seasons of the Ranji Trophy, the right-handed batsman has scored 2566 runs – 928 in 2019/20, 982 in 2022-23, and 656 in 2022-23. Sarfaraz Khan has a career average of 79.65. He has hit 13 centuries so far including a triple century.

Brad Hogg on Sarfaraz Khan getting snubbed:

With the Indian cricket fraternity searching for answers from selectors on their decision to ignore Sarfaraz Khan once again, Brad Hogg has come up with an explanation. The World Cup-winning spinner has said that the reason behind the snub was that the Mumbai batsman does not fit into the scheme of things. He also pointed out Sarfaraz’s failure to do well in the IPL.

“Sarfaraz Khan has been sensational in the Ranji Trophy. Why is he not in this squad? I know why Sarfaraz Khan wasn’t picked and is not looked out in the India lineup right now at Test level,” Hogg said on his YouTube channel.

“One – he bats in the middle order for his state team that’s five or six. Also, in the IPL if you look at his record against good-quality high pace bowling, it’s not that good. I think this is where the Indian selectors are a little bit shy with Sarfaraz Khan. If he can improve that in the next IPL then I’m sure he’s going to have a long career for India at Test level,” he added.

Talking about Sarfaraz’s performance in the IPL, he has managed to score only 585 runs in 50 IPL games at an average of 22.5. In IPL 2023, he was dropped from the playing eleven after managing only a modest 53 runs from 4 games while playing for Delhi Capitals.

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