Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra wants Gautam Gambhir-led management and selectors to give deserved opportunities to Sarfaraz Khan in the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia. Chopra believes that the young batter has proved his mettle thus far and he deserves his chances in Australia.
Khan scored 200 runs in three Test matches against England at an average of 50 and made an impressive start to his Test career earlier in the year. The right-hander also scored an impressive knock of 150 runs in the second innings of the opening Test against New Zealand at Bengaluru.
But barring that knock, Khan could not make a substantial contribution in the other five innings. The Mumbai batter scored 171 runs in three Test matches at an average of 28.50 against the Kiwis.
But according to reports, Khan doesn’t look to be part of India’s playing XI for the Perth Test despite the absence of Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma.
“Can Sarfaraz not be considered at all? Although you and I might have less confidence in him, it doesn’t make a difference what you, I or the team think about him. If you have taken him along, it’s your duty to try him at least,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
The renowned commentator feels it wouldn’t be fair to ignore Sarfaraz Khan without even giving him his chance.
“Without trying, you cannot tell anyone that you are not enjoying playing him, especially a player who is tried and tested. You played him and he scored 150. You played him against England before that and he scored runs. So after scoring runs, you cannot tell anyone that there is a chance and a place but you would play someone else ahead of him,” he elaborated.
Chopra added that batters’ selection, unlike bowlers, should not be based on the pitch conditions.
“Bowlers are conditions-applied but batters are not conditions-applied. Sarfaraz cannot remain a subcontinental batter. If you don’t play him here, you will have to play him in England, or else you will have to drop him. Then how will you tell him why you did that? If he can be in the squad of 18 or 19, why not in the XI?” Chopra observed.
The opening Test match between India and Australia will be played at Perth from November 22 onwards.
