Sarfaraz Khan to be dropped? Photo: AP
Will Sarfaraz Khan get dropped from the playing XI despite a century in the first Test match against New Zealand? The right-handed batsman is in line to get dropped from the playing XI despite his heroics in Bengaluru. The former vice-captain has the head coach's backing and he could get another game to save his place in the playing XI.
Speaking to the press before the 2nd Test match in Pune, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate revealed that head coach Gautam Gambhir is keen to give a long rope to Rahul. "Yeah, there's no point in sugarcoating it, there's a fight for a spot," ten Doeschate said.
"Sarfaraz was obviously brilliant in the last Test. I went to KL after the last Test (and) said how many balls do you play at (and) miss at? He didn't play at (and) miss at one ball and that's what tends to happen when you're not getting runs. There's certainly no concerns about KL, he's batting nicely, he is in a good mental space. But we are certainly going to have to fit seven pieces into six spots for this Test and look at the pitch now and decide what's going to be best for the team. Gauti is keen to give him a long rope like Sanju (Samson)."
Sarfaraz, who made his India debut against England earlier in the year, was benched for two-match series against Bangladesh. He made his return after Shubman Gill missed the opening game against NZ due to neck sprain.
Sarfaraz departed for a three-ball duck in the first innings. He put on a 177-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Rishabh Pant and scored a brilliant 150 off 195 balls in the second innings. Rishabh missed out on a century and departed for 99.
Rahul departed for a duck in the first innings and managed a score of 12 in the second innings. He scored a half-century in the second Test against Bangladesh.
The second Test between India and New Zealand will be played in Pune from October 24 to 28. India have called up Washington Sundar in the squad for the last two games.
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