Out-of-favour India batter Sarfaraz Khan shared a cryptic Instagram story after missing selection for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. The 28-year-old middle-order batter stated that he wants to keep fighting despite facing continuous selection snubs from the national selectors.
Team India will face Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series, starting on August 15 in Galle before the second Test begins in Colombo on August 23. The visitors, led by Shubman Gill, will look to improve their position in the ICC 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) standings.
Sarfaraz Khan Shares Cryptic Instagram Story After Missing Sri Lanka Tour
Sarfaraz Khan took to Instagram after missing selection for India's two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. The Mumbai batter shared an emotional message, stating that he remains determined to keep fighting for a place in the national team.
"I may not fit in, but I'll fight with everything I've got."
Instagram story of Sarfaraz Khan! 😔 pic.twitter.com/TH6ma1aJr6
— CricketGully (@thecricketgully) August 7, 2026
The 28-year-old last played for India during the home Test series against New Zealand in 2024. He finished as India's third-highest run-scorer in the series with 171 runs in six innings, including a brilliant 150 in the opening Test.
Meanwhile, India made a slow start in the practice match, with the Sri Lanka Cricket XI reaching 138/1 at lunch on the opening day. Sai Sudharsan is recovering from a toe injury and is yet to join the Indian squad
Sarfaraz Khan Continues to Deliver in Red-Ball Cricket
Sarfaraz scored his maiden Test century against New Zealand but lost his place after a string of low scores. He has missed selection for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, and now the Sri Lanka Test series.
The right-handed batter made his Test debut against England in 2024 after years of consistent domestic performances. He impressed immediately with two fifties on debut and has scored 371 runs in 11 Test innings at an average of 37.10, including one century and three half-centuries.
Despite being out of the national side, Sarfaraz has continued to perform in domestic cricket. He scored 429 runs in seven matches during the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy at an average of 53.62. His ability to handle spin and play sweep shots has remained one of his biggest strengths in red-ball cricket.
Sarfaraz Khan Revived His IPL Career with Chennai Super Kings
Sarfaraz Khan also worked on his white-ball game ahead of IPL 2026. After going unsold in the initial auction in Abu Dhabi, Chennai Super Kings signed him for ₹75 lakh during the accelerated round, giving him another opportunity in the tournament.
The Mumbai batter made an impressive start, scoring a 25-ball fifty against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, he finished the season with 161 runs in seven innings at an average of 23 and a strike rate of 169.47.
Chennai Super Kings, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, endured a disappointing campaign. They finished eighth on the points table with six wins and eight defeats, missing the playoffs. Meanwhile, Sarfaraz continues to wait for another opportunity in India's Test setup.
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