Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan shared his frustration about his prolonged wait for an India recall, despite improving his fitness and consistently scoring runs in domestic cricket. Sarfaraz's last appearance for India came against New Zealand in 2024 at the Wankhede Stadium.

Though he was recalled into the Indian squad for the recent Sri Lanka Tests, he failed to break into the playing XI.

"So much has happened. I am not thinking much. I wake up every morning and ask myself the same question: 'Why should I work hard?' The same routine starts at 5:00 am every morning. I have played for India. Even with a normal routine, I can play in the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai because I have been scoring those 30s, 50s and 100s," Sarfaraz told reporters after the first day's play of Mumbai's Ranji Trophy match against Railways, as quoted by PTI.

The 29-year-old said his father, Naushad Khan, remains his inspiration in tough times.

"But sometimes, the question pops up, and when I see my father working hard, then I think, 'Okay, I will go out there and score for him.' I have the same routine. Everyone knows that if you want to meet Sarfaraz Khan, you don't have to come to his home address. You can meet him either at Azad Maidan or Cross Maidan at 6:00 am," he added.

Sarfaraz said that he is simply concentrating on his cricket and not looking too far ahead.

"I didn't even know that I would get a call-up for the Sri Lanka tour. I was at the NCA, and I was called up, but I didn't get the opportunity. I came back, and I am playing cricket for Mumbai. I don't even understand it anymore; I am just playing. If they (national selectors) call me up, I will go and play for India. If they do not call me up, I will play here," he said.

Sarfaraz, who debuted in February 2024, has so far played all six of his Test matches at home venues.

He was unable to make the India XI during the Sri Lanka Test tour, and before that he was also in the Indian squad that toured Australia, yet he could not get into the XI.

Sarfaraz was perplexed by his exclusion from the squads for away tours. He pointed to his hundreds in intra-squad matches in South Africa and England to reinforce his argument.

"No selector said this in particular, but when I was with the Indian team, I only heard that they are looking at me more for Indian conditions. But still, I have a question. When I went to South Africa, I made a hundred against the Indian team in 60 balls (63 balls), and when I went to England, I scored a hundred runs in 60 balls (101 off 76 balls)," he said.

"So, it's not that I have not scored runs outside India. I have scored runs. It's alright; it's their lookout, it's their perspective. My job is to play cricket," he said.

His last four Test innings produced scores of 11, 9, 0 and 1 against New Zealand in Pune and Mumbai in 2024, eventually leading to his ouster.

"When you come back to India to play on rank turners... yes, you get to the Indian team after so much struggle in domestic cricket, but suddenly you would not be able to perform on such difficult wickets," he added.

Sarfaraz credited his father Naushad Khan, who has always stood by him, for his unstinting support.

"Everyone knows that I don't have support in my life. If I have support, then it is only from my father. No one has supported me in my life. But I have worked hard and fulfilled my father's dream. It is not easy to play for India in this generation.

It's not that I have scored once or twice in domestic cricket and played for India. I have made 250s and 300s and have worked hard to play for India. If someone has supported me, it is my father,” he said.

 Sarfaraz said he wanted to spend as much time as possible on the field.

“The only motivation is that I have to play cricket. I do not like to sit at home in the off-season. Wherever I get an opportunity, be it the Ranji Trophy, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the IPL, the Indian team or India A, I just want to play cricket,” he said.

The yearning to get a Team India recall led to Sarfaraz Khan working on his fitness, resulting in a weight loss of 22 kg.

"No, no one told me that I should reduce weight. But whatever I heard on social media, or heard from someone, that weight should be reduced, I have done it. I can't do anything more than that. In reality, my weight was on the higher side. Earlier, I had lost 10 kg. Now I have lost 22 kg. I have lost 12 kg more. My footwork is going well. I worked hard in the off-season.

I feel I used to play better when I was fat. I am getting runs. Not every day or every year is the same. Ups and downs will be there, but as long as you are not out of form, it's alright," he signed off.

(PTI inputs)