Sarfaraz Khan’s road back to the Indian team is gathering momentum, and the Mumbai batter is making sure his case is impossible to ignore. Last seen in India colours in November 2024, Sarfaraz has since focused on transformation and output. He has trimmed down, sharpened his fitness, and, more crucially, drowned domestic attacks in runs.The numbers tell a compelling story. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Sarfaraz struck scores of 157, 55 and 62, before going even bigger in the Ranji Trophy with a colossal 227 against Hyderabad. Each innings has felt like a message to the selectors that he is ready for another look.
Along the way, Sarfaraz has found encouragement from senior voices, most notably Mohammad Azharuddin. The former India captain spent time with Sarfaraz recently, offering guidance on handling reverse swing. According to The Sportstar, the youngster even waited close to 45 minutes just to meet Azharuddin after the former batter finished his engagements.Azharuddin, however, was quick to deflect any personal credit. “At the end of the day, he went and played. He scored those runs, and he should take all the accolades. I am very thankful that he took my name, but it was not required. As long as he scores runs and succeeds, I am very happy. That will be the best gift he can give me,” Azharuddin told Sportstar.The former skipper also spoke glowingly about Sarfaraz’s intent at the crease. “He is a good, attacking player who can change the situation of a game very quickly. He doesn’t like being dominated by the bowler. As a batsman, you need to score runs. If you allow a good bowler to dominate, you are in trouble. I don’t know how the pitch was, but I believe the ball was swinging and the bounce was variable. So for him to score at a good rate underlines his quality.”Sarfaraz’s international journey began brightly. He made his India debut during the 2024 home Test series against England, scoring a lively 62 on debut followed by 68 in the second innings. Another fifty came in Dharamsala, before he produced a career-best 150 against New Zealand in Bengaluru, albeit in a losing cause. He travelled with the Indian squad to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but did not get a game, and was later omitted from the England tour, remaining on the outside since.What has impressed Azharuddin most is Sarfaraz’s mindset despite those setbacks. “He wants to learn. Even after playing for India and then scoring runs, he still wants to learn. That’s a very good sign. Because nobody is perfect. Zaheer Abbas showed me what to change in myself and how, when I was struggling. He showed me how to play fast bowling and swing bowling,” he said.Azharuddin also made a direct appeal to the selection panel led by Ajit Agarkar, backing Sarfaraz for another opportunity. “He deserves another chance to play for India. He has scored runs everywhere, and India needs good attacking players. If you are scoring runs but you still don’t get a chance, it gets very disappointing. But I’m sure he will get it very soon.”For Sarfaraz Khan, the runs are flowing again, the hunger is visible, and influential voices are firmly in his corner. Whether the selectors respond now feels less like a question of form, and more a matter of timing.