Sarfaraz Khan’s return to the Indian Test squad has sparked a fresh selection debate ahead of the opening Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, with the Mumbai batter competing with Dhruv Jurel for a place in the playing XI. Sarfaraz was brought back into the squad after Sai Sudharsan was ruled out through injury. However, despite his recall, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes Jurel is more likely to get the nod for the first Test, which begins on August 15.
Sarfaraz, 28, has not played for India since the three-Test series against New Zealand (2024). He made a strong statement in the first Test with a 150-run knock, but failed to replicate that performance in the next two matches. He was subsequently left out of the playing XI during the Australia series and was later dropped from the squad altogether. The batter spent more than a year away from the Indian team, with questions surrounding the reasons for his exclusion. One of the reported concerns was his suitability and technique in overseas conditions. Ashwin, however, believes Sarfaraz deserves clarity from the team management if there are doubts about where he fits into India’s plans. According to the former spinner, captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir should clearly communicate Sarfaraz’s role instead of leaving the batter uncertain about his future. “I'll start with Jurel. Sarfaraz came into the squad because of Sai Sudharsan's injury. The messaging is very important for Sarfaraz. If you feel he is a suspect in certain conditions, you need to give him clarity. You need to tell him that he can serve the team in sub-continental conditions," said Ashwin on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’. Ashwin feels Sarfaraz could carve out a significant role for himself in conditions where he is particularly comfortable, especially against spin. “So that way, even Sarfaraz won't waste his time on the rest of the things. He can focus on playing good spin, and he can become the king of the sub-continental conditions. He can build his career. If you feel he cannot work in certain conditions, then communicate that to him,” he added. A place for Sarfaraz in Galle could make sense given his ability to handle spin. The right-hander is comfortable using his feet against spinners and has shown an ability to keep the scoring rate moving by putting pressure on them. His sweep shot is another weapon that could prove useful in Sri Lankan conditions, allowing him to disrupt a spinner’s rhythm and force changes in length. Jurel, meanwhile, has produced mixed returns so far and did not make an impact during India’s warm-up game against SLC XI. That could add another layer to the selection debate, although Ashwin still expects the wicketkeeper-batter to be preferred. Sarfaraz’s experience of batting at No. 5 also means a move to No. 6 would not represent a major adjustment. Much of his domestic career for Mumbai and the West Zone has come in the middle order, where he has accumulated a huge volume of runs. With spin expected to play a major role in Galle, India face an interesting choice between Jurel and Sarfaraz. While Jurel appears to have the edge in Ashwin’s assessment, Sarfaraz’s record against spin and experience in the domestic game could make him a tempting option for the first Test.