‘Sarfaraz doesn’t need an India A game to play international cricket’, says Shardul Thakur ahead of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy clash against Chhattisgarh

Sarfaraz hasn’t been part of the Indian team since the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. He wasn’t picked for the two-match Test series against the West Indies at home earlier this month due to injury. However, what came as a surprise was him missing out from the India A squad without any reason. Thakur stated that Sarfaraz was coming from injury lay-off and he was looking in a good touch.

“But before that, he scored two-three centuries in the Buchi Babu Trophy before getting injured. Coming back against J&K in the previous match, he had a nice 40 (42). It was very unfortunate to have been run out. But for him, I don’t think playing India A is important,” Thakur added..

Being the senior player in the team, Thakur said he had the hunger to put an extra effort in the side and he had delivered for Mumbai in crunch situations in the past.

“He has big scores of 200-250’s and those innings have come when the team was two or three down quite early in the innings. To play that kind of innings under pressure, you have to have something special in you. He is one of the special players who never disappoints to perform and put up big scores. He has done it for years and years. Regardless of which number he bats, I think he will deliver,” the India all rounder said.