IND vs AUS: “I Am A Little Disappointed” – Aakash Chopra Reacts To Sarfaraz Khan Being Left Out Of India's Test Squad For Australia Series

Updated - 14 Jan 2023, 02:43 PM

Watch: Sarfaraz Khan Bursts Into Tears After Smashing Yet Another Century In The Ranji Trophy Final
Watch: Sarfaraz Khan Bursts Into Tears After Smashing Yet Another Century In The Ranji Trophy Final

Former India National Cricket Team opening batsman Aakash Chopra has expressed disappointment over the non-selection of the 25-year-old Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan in India’s Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023.

On Friday, January 13, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad for the first two Tests against Australia and Sarfaraz Khan was once again overlooked despite performing exceptionally well consistently in the domestic circuit.

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Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra (Image Credits: Twitter)

In a video shared on his official YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that the in-form batter Sarfaraz might feel betrayed. He stated:

“Sarfaraz’s name is still not there. He feels he got cheated because his name should probably have come. Bumrah is still not there. That’s another news but I am more concerned that Sarfaraz is not there.”

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Chopra further said that Sarfaraz deserved to get picked ahead of Suryakumar Yadav in the Test squad because of his exceptional performance in first-class cricket. He elaborated:

“When you picked Surya, it means a slot had opened up. In my opinion, Sarfaraz should have gotten that chance because Sarfaraz’s first-class average is 80. Apart from him, only Don Bradman has an average of 80 or more in the number of matches he has played.

“So he has done everything in his powers to be in the Indian team. I am a little disappointed, that if you had a chance to select even one guy, because both Surya and Sarfaraz don’t come in the XI, Sarfaraz had the right in my opinion. If someone’s domestic season is going so good, you should have rewarded him.”

Bumrah’s name is not there for the Tests although there was a thought that he was being prepared for Tests – Aakash Chopra

Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah (Image Credits: Twitter)

The cricketer-turned-commentator further said that the premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah not being part of the Test squad and the star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja’s availability being subject to fitness are major issues for the side. He said:

“Bumrah’s name is not there for the Tests although there was a thought that he was being prepared for Tests, because the WTC final is later. If he is not there for the first two Tests and Ravindra Jadeja’s availability is also subject to fitness, there are certain issues which are yet to be addressed.”

The iconic Border-Gavaskar Trophy series will be played across four different venues in India. The Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur will host the first Test from February 9 to 13, and the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi will host the second Test from February 17 to 21.

The third Test will be played at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala from March 1 to 5 and the fourth Test will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad from March 9 to 13.

Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja. Image: Cricket Australia

Also Read: IND vs AUS: “So They Choose Suryakumar Yadav Over Sarfaraz”: Twitter React As Sarfaraz Khan Fails To Find Spot In India Team For IND vs AUS Tests

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IND vs AUS 2023 India National Cricket Team Jasprit Bumrah Ravindra Jadeja Sarfaraz Khan Suryakumar Yadav