Sarfaraz Khan has earned a return to India’s Test squad after nearly two years, replacing injured batter Sai Sudharsan for the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka.
The 28-year-old Mumbai batter was recalled on Sunday after Sudharsan was ruled out with a stress reaction in his right toe. Sarfaraz’s return comes after a long period in which his strong domestic record was repeatedly followed by limited opportunities at the international level.
Sarfaraz Khan Back in India Squad
Sarfaraz last played a Test for India in November 2024. He was part of the squad for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia but did not feature in any match. He was subsequently left out of India’s Test squad for the 2025 England tour.
Since then, Sarfaraz continued to perform in domestic cricket. During the 2025 Ranji Trophy season, he scored 429 runs in seven matches at an average of 53.62 for Mumbai.
His overall first-class record remains impressive. He has scored heavily across 62 matches, maintaining an average of 64.73.
Sarfaraz has played six Tests for India, scoring 371 runs at an average of 37.10, including one century and three half-centuries.
A Long Road Back to India
Sarfaraz’s return follows a difficult period in his career. His strongest Test moment came during India’s home series against New Zealand in October 2024, when he scored a memorable 150 in Bengaluru.
However, he could not maintain that momentum and managed only 11 as his highest score in the remainder of the series. He was then unable to break into the playing XI during the Australia tour.
His domestic performances continued to keep him in contention, while he also worked on his fitness. The batter reportedly underwent a major physical transformation after facing repeated criticism over his fitness.
In the 2026 IPL season, Sarfaraz also received an opportunity with Chennai Super Kings after going without an IPL contract in 2024 and 2025. He scored 161 runs at a strike rate of 169.47, including a half-century.
Sarfaraz Celebrates India Recall
After his selection was announced, Sarfaraz shared pictures of himself wearing India’s training kit and posing with his father, Naushad Khan.
He had earlier posted a line from the Telugu film Jersey that appeared to reflect his struggle to return to the national team: “I may not fit in, but I’ll fight.”
The recall gives Sarfaraz another opportunity to establish himself in India’s Test middle order.
Sri Lanka Series Could Be Crucial
Sarfaraz will join the Shubman Gill-led Indian squad ahead of the first Test in Galle on August 15. India will play two Tests against Sri Lanka as part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
However, his place in the playing XI is not guaranteed. Devdutt Padikkal impressed during India’s three-day warm-up match, which India won by six wickets on Sunday.
The Indian squad has also been affected by several injuries, with players including Jasprit Bumrah, Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar and Harshit Rana unavailable for the tour.
Sarfaraz Faces Another Test
Sarfaraz’s recall highlights the difficulty of breaking into India’s Test side despite strong domestic numbers. His career has similarities with Karun Nair, who returned to the Indian team after years away following a prolific domestic season but struggled to convert his opportunity into big Test scores.
For Sarfaraz, the immediate task is therefore clear. The runs that earned him another chance have brought him back into the squad, but performances in Sri Lanka will determine whether he can turn that opportunity into a permanent place.
After nearly two years on the outside, Sarfaraz Khan has finally got another door into the Indian Test team. Now he must make the opportunity count.
