Sarfaraz Khan’s frustration finally spilled over in a recent interview after he scored a half-century for Mumbai against Railways in the Ranji Trophy. Speaking at the Brabourne Stadium, the 29-year-old
middle-order batter laid bare the emotional toll of repeated snubs from the Indian Test side. His last Test appearance came against New Zealand in 2024. He later warmed the bench during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia and was completely sidelined despite consistent domestic runs.
“Har subah utatha hoon (I wake up every morning) and ask myself the same question. Why should I work harder and undergo the same thing again and again? I have played for India. I wake up at 5 am in the morning and go to practice. Chahoon to Mumbai ke liye khel sakta hoon and I am still playing. Sometimes I get that question in my mind. But when I see that my father is working hard for me, mein unko liye ab score karna chahta hoon. This is the only factor which is motivating me,” Sarfaraz told The Indian Express.
🚨 SARFRAZ KHAN ANGRY STATEMENT ON SELECTORS 🚨
“I wake up every morning and ask myself the same question. Why should I work harder and undergo the same thing again and again. I have played for India. I wake up at 5 am in the morning and go to practice”.
Sarfraz Khan best domestic performer but no place in team India squad, he lost the weight of 15 kg. Improve his fitness.
— VIKAS (@Vikas662005) November 2, 2026
Even a recent call-up for the Sri Lanka series, as a replacement for the injured Sai Sudharsan, brought Khan no game time. “I was batting in the NCA. They called me there and I didn’t get an opportunity. I came back and played cricket in Mumbai. I am just playing. They (selector) will call me wherever I get a chance. I will go and play. If they don’t call me, I will play here,” he said.
Sarfaraz Khan questions perception around his overseas batting record
Sarfaraz Khan made his Test debut on 15 February 2024 against England in Rajkot, marking a long-awaited entry into the national side after years of prolific domestic form. In six Tests, he has scored 371 runs across 11 innings at an average of 37.10, with a highest score of 150 against New Zealand.
He has one century and three fifties to his name, including twin half-centuries on debut. His last appearance came in November 2024 against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium, after which he has remained on the fringes of the Test squad despite consistent performances for Mumbai
The right hand batter has also pushed back against the perception that he is suited only to Indian conditions. “When I went to the Indian team, I heard that I will be given more chances in Indian conditions but still I have a question. When I went to Africa, I scored 100 runs against the Indian team in 60 balls. When I went to England, I scored 100 runs in 60 balls. It’s not that I didn’t score outside. I scored outside too. That’s their look out, that’s their point of view. But my job is to play cricket, and I will continue playing,” he explained.
He also said that the absence of support has taken a toll heavily on him. “Everyone knows that I don’t have support in my life. If I have support, it is only from my father. No one has supported me in my life. But it’s okay. I have worked hard. I fulfilled my father’s dream. It’s not easy to play in India in this generation. And I didn’t score once or twice and played in India. I scored 300’s, 200’s, 250’s. If someone supports me, it’s my father. I will keep working hard as much as I can,” he added.
