Former Indian off-spinner and commentator Ravi Ashwin has advised the Indian team management, headed by Gautam Gambhir, to give proper communication to the middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan, who marked his return to the Indian Test team.
Notably, the Mumbai batter was dropped from the Indian Test squad after the conclusion of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Down Under, but returned to the squad last week as Sai Sudharsan’s replacement for the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin stressed that the team management must hold talks with Sarfaraz on his future in the side, adding that he needs to get proper communication, especially if he is not in contention for certain conditions.
“Sarfaraz Khan has come back, yes, but he came in for Sai Sudharsan as an injury replacement. Messaging is important for Sarfaraz. If you feel he can be a suspect in some conditions, then you have to give him that clarity, that he has a chance in subcontinental conditions to play for India,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
It’s worth noting that Sarfaraz missed India’s tour to England last year and two home series against the West Indies and South Africa. He also missed the one-off Test against Afghanistan in June.
“Then he will also not waste time and can focus on playing good spin and build a career. Communicate this to him. See New Zealand, Ajaz Patel plays in subcontinental conditions. It is clear. Simon Harmer for South Africa also. There are several cases,” Ashwin concluded.
India’s updated squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka: Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Sarfaraz Khan
