Sarfaraz Khan: India call-up after long Test wait finally arrived for the Mumbai batter on Monday. The 28-year-old was named as a replacement for the injured Sai Sudharsan in India’s squad for the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka. Sharing the news on social media, Sarfaraz posted pictures of himself in the Team India travelling jersey, with his father sitting beside him in one frame. The selection ends a frustrating period during which he was repeatedly overlooked despite consistent domestic performances.
Sarfaraz has played six Tests for India, scoring 372 runs, with his last appearance coming against New Zealand in Mumbai in 2024. He was part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad in Australia but did not feature in any of the five Tests. He also traveled with India A to England but missed out on the senior squad for the five-match series in mid-2025. Through these setbacks, he kept scoring heavily in first-class cricket, staying firmly in the selector’s minds.
The BCCI confirmed Sudharsan’s exclusion due to a toe injury suffered during India A’s tour last month. He is currently recovering at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The selectors moved quickly to add Sarfaraz, who will link up with the squad in Colombo before travelling to Galle for the opening Test starting August 15, 2026. “The men’s Selection Committee has named Sarfaraz Khan as a replacement for Sai Sudharsan,” the board stated in an official release.
With India sitting fifth on the World Test Championship points table, the series against sixth-placed Sri Lanka is crucial for their final hopes. The first Test is in Galle, followed by the second in Colombo. Captained by Shubman Gill, the squad includes KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Siraj. Sarfaraz’s inclusion adds proven domestic grit to the middle order. For a player who has waited patiently, this call-up is a well-deserved reward for persistence.