Mumbai’s prolific batter Sarfaraz Khan was a glaring absentee when the BCCI selectors unveiled the India A squad for a couple of four-day matches against South Africa A earlier this week.

Many have questioned the logic behind leaving out Sarfaraz, who recently underwent a physical transformation and also scored runs during the India A tour of England.

Sarfaraz, who has 4,759 first-class runs to his name at an average of 65.19 in 56 matches, has represented India in six Tests so far, scoring 371 runs with the help of one hundred and three half-centuries. His last Test appearance was against New Zealand in November 2024.

While Sarfaraz was a part of India's tour of Australia late last year, he has been sidelined from the Test squad since then. Now, the India A snub has sparked widespread debate over his international future.

Meanwhile, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar is hoping that Sarfaraz Khan has received a clear message from the selectors as to why he is out of the national team setup at the moment.  

“I think it would have been good if the selection committee had told why he was not considered. Hopefully they've conveyed to him. Because only last year, he got 100 against New Zealand on a pitch where not too many others got runs. He got 140 or 150. So, he is capable of batting and scoring runs at the highest level,” Gavaskar said while speaking to India Today.

"He hasn't really got the opportunities. You could say whether it was in Australia or England, he wasn't even in the squad. Maybe because of injury, but whatever the reason that he has not been picked up, which has not been made public as long as he's been told why, and therefore he has the opportunity to get better, that would be a good thing to do. About his ability, everybody has seen the runs he has scored, everything, so, hopefully the selection committee has been in touch with him," Gavaskar added.

The 76-year-old also highlighted that said that selection can become an unlucky process for players at time. He cited the example of Indian cricket's golden era, where Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly occupied the middle order.

"Well, that's it. But that's, that's how selection sometimes is. And sometimes you miss out. Sometimes, only 11 can play, and then sometimes only 16 can be included. There are players who are good enough, but who don't always find a place. There's so many in the history of cricket, not just in Indian cricket, so many who are good enough, but who unfortunately, being born at the wrong time, where there were others who were as good or slightly better, who played for a long time."

"When you had Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Saurav Ganguly in the team, who could come in the middle order? They were there for about 10-12 years. There were so many. Good players. So that's how it is. But hopefully, like I said, uh, Ajit Agarar has had a word with Sarfraz and told him why he's not in consideration at the moment."

"Maybe they just want him to play Ranji Trophy and, and get loads of runs," Gavaskar remarked.

Earlier, a report published in PTI suggested that Sarfaraz Khan's absence was down to Rishabh Pant's return to the red-ball setup. With Pant being given the No. 5 spot in the India A team, there was no space for Sarfaraz.

In fact, Sarfaraz has reportedly been asked to get himself promoted to the No. 3 spot for the Mumbai team in Ranji Trophy if he is to reclaim his place in the national side. India cricket apparel

At present, the only slot vacant in the senior Indian team is No. 3, where Sai Sudharsan hasn't yet done enough to secure his place.