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Sarfaraz Khan or Shaik Rasheed: Does the Mumbai batsman deserve a second chance in India Test team? originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Sarfaraz Khan and Shaik Rasheed are frontrunners to replace the injured Sai Sudharsan in the Indian team vs Sri Lanka.
- Sarfaraz Khan averaged over 53 in the Ranji Trophy last season after a fitness overhaul.
- Shaik Rasheed posted an even stronger domestic return in the same competition.
Sarfaraz Khan vs Shaik Rasheed: The battle to replace Sai Sudharsan
India's search for a batting replacement in the Test squad against Sri Lanka has boiled down to two contrasting candidates, Sarfaraz Khan and Shaik Rasheed. According to the Times of India, both players have been asked to report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence after Sai Sudharsan was ruled out of the Sri Lanka series with a toe injury.
Sarfaraz Khan, the more experienced of the pair, offers a proven domestic record and prior international exposure. The Mumbai batter played six Tests for India between February and November 2024 before being dropped, largely over concerns about his fitness and agility in the field.
Shaik Rasheed, the Andhra youngster, represents the alternative path. The 21-year-old has been closely tracked by the selectors and recently featured on the India A tour of Sri Lanka, making his case for a maiden call-up in conditions similar to those that await in Galle.
MORE: Sai Sudharsan ruled out of Sri Lanka Test series: Three players who can replace injured Indian batter
Why Sarfaraz Khan deserves a second chance in the India Test team
The case for Sarfaraz Khan rests first on his relentless domestic run-scoring. In the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, he was in commanding touch for Mumbai, and a direct comparison with Rasheed shows both were among the standout batters in the competition.
| Player | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 100 | 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarfaraz Khan | 7 | 9 | 429 | 227 | 53.62 | 75.13 | 1 | 1 |
| Shaik Rasheed | 8 | 11 | 627 | 140* | 89.57 | 56.63 | 3 | 2 |
Sarfaraz's season included his fifth first-class double century, a 227 off 219 balls against Hyderabad, underlining his ability to bat long and score at pace. His strike rate of over 75 also points to a batter who can seize control of an innings rather than simply occupy the crease.
MORE: Fans relieved as Padikkal delivers with bat amid Sai Sudharsan injury
The second, and perhaps more significant, part of his case is the fitness transformation that was supposed to answer his critics. Having been dropped from the 2025 England tour squad over agility concerns, Sarfaraz shed 17 kilograms through a complete lifestyle and dietary overhaul, then unveiled a further body transformation in 2026 with a visibly leaner, more muscular frame.
Having addressed the exact weakness that cost him his place, and with a solid if unspectacular Test record already to his name, Sarfaraz can feel he has done everything asked of him to warrant a recall.
MORE: Full list of injuries suffered by India stars in 2026: Latest updates with Indian cricket in a fitness crisis
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Sarfaraz Khan's India Test record so far
Sarfaraz made an encouraging start to his Test career before being eased out of the side. His overall numbers show a batter who contributed useful runs without ever quite nailing down a century at the top level.
| Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Avg | 100 | 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 11 | 371 | 150 | 37.10 | 0 | 3 |
Why Rasheed's numbers may tilt the call away from Sarfaraz
On the raw comparison, it is hard to look past Shaik Rasheed. His Ranji average of nearly 90 and his three centuries dwarf Sarfaraz's returns in the same season, and his recent India A exposure in Sri Lankan conditions makes him a natural fit for the specific challenge in Galle.
The selectors have made no secret of wanting to blood younger batters, and Rasheed ticks that box. Yet the argument for giving Sarfaraz a second chance is about more than one season's numbers.
He has done the hard yards on fitness, the one genuine knock against him, and his experience of international cricket means he could slot in without the adjustment a debutant requires.
The lingering doubt, as reports suggest, is that a key figure in the setup remains unconvinced by him regardless of the runs.
If India reward Rasheed's higher ceiling, it will be a defensible call, but it would also leave Sarfaraz entitled to wonder what more a batter can do to force his way back in.
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