The team management was captivated by the exploits of the fiery batsman Sarfaraz Khan during the series against England earlier in the year. The 26-year-old secured his place in the next two-match Test series against Bangladesh by playing three matches in the series and scoring 200 runs at an average of 50.
He played for India B in the Duleep Trophy 2024, making nine runs in the first innings and forty-six in the second against India A. The Mumbai hitter failed to turn his natural aggressive cricket in the second innings into a substantial total. Due to the team management’s apparent preference for KL Rahul—who scored a half-century in the Duleep Trophy—he may not make the starting XI for the series against Bangladesh.
In the few recent Test matches he participated in, the senior batter also contributed. In the meantime, the aggressive Sarfaraz and the collected Rahul will face off in the Test series against Bangladesh, according to the team management. Rahul is now leading the race, according to a source close to the BCCI, who also pointed out that the cricket player was out for the last four Test matches against England due to injury but was never dropped.
KL Rahul sustained injuries but was not dropped: Source BCCI
The workings of a team and the established procedures are confusing to outsiders. KL has produced a century in South Africa, one of the best Test knocks in recent memory, and 86 at Hyderabad in the final Test he played before becoming injured in his last three Test matches. He was hurt but was not dropped. Thus, he is available and fit, made a fifty in Duleep, has match time, and will lead off, The Wire cited a BCCI insider as saying.
“Rahul’s experience is invaluable, but Sarfaraz has done everything correctly and, mind you, he will just step in if there is an injury anyplace. Furthermore, the team management is not only considering Bangladesh; they are also considering Australia, where prior experience is significant, the source continued.
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On September 12, in Chennai, Indian players are scheduled to reassemble. On September 19, they will play their first Test after over a week of preparation.
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