Ranji Trophy Quarterfinals: Runs 'NOT ENOUGH' for Sarfaraz, selectors say 'Improve fitness'

Ranji Trophy Quarterfinals Live: Mumbai’s middle-order batsman Sarfaraz Khan is living in a dream form. In the last 14 innings, he has scored 1,632 runs including a triple century, two double centuries, three centuries and three fifties. While it may seem that he has done everything he could to earn a place in Team India, selectors have a different view. It is NOT ENOUGH. They want him to improve his fitness to earn a call-up. Follow Ranji Trophy 2022 Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.

In the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals, he slammed 153 runs against Uttarakhand in Bengaluru, stretching his red-hot red-ball form. But despite piling up runs, it seems, the door for the India team is not yet open.

“He is an excellent player and in superb form. But he has a lot of competition in the team. He is definitely being monitored but at the same time, there are others ahead of him in the queue,” a member of the selection committee told InsideSport.

Ranji Trophy Quarterfinals Live: In form of his life but runs ‘NOT ENOUGH’ for Sarfaraz Khan, selector says ‘He needs to improve fitness’

Ranji Trophy Quarterfinals Live: Sarfaraz Khan in Ranji Trophy last 10 matches

8, 71* vs Karnataka
36 vs Tamil Nadu
301* v Uttar Pradesh
226* v Himachal Pradesh
78, 25 v Saurashtra
177, 6 v Madhya Pradesh
275 v Saurashtra
63, 48 v Goa
165 v Odisha
153 v Uttarakhand

Ranji Trophy Quarterfinals Live: In form of his life but runs ‘NOT ENOUGH’ for Sarfaraz Khan, selector says ‘He needs to improve fitness’

The one issue that has come to the fore, again and again, is his fitness. Despite his excellent form, the selector says he still needs to improve his fitness. He was in fact given a call-up to India A for South Africa tour. Although Sarfaraz scored a half-century, he failed to break into India’s Test squad, thanks to tough competition for top and middle-order spots.

“That is the reason he was picked for India A. But he will have to improve his fitness. Once he improves on his fitness and continues with the form, it will be difficult to stop him,” the selection committee member told InsideSport.

Ranji Trophy Quarterfinals Live: In form of his life but runs ‘NOT ENOUGH’ for Sarfaraz Khan, selector says ‘He needs to improve fitness’

Ranji Trophy Quarterfinals: Why is Sarfaraz Khan’s road to Team India is tough?

Despite becoming the top scorer of Ranji Trophy 2022 with 704 runs, he has not yet proved his worth in IPL or India A.
In IPL 2022, he scored 91 runs at an average of 30.33 in 6 matches for Delhi capitals.
He struggled in the middle order for Delhi Capitals.
The other factor that works against him is the number of players ahead of him in the pecking order for Team India.
He has competition from his state captain Ajinkya Rahane besides Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Bihari for a potential No 5 or No 6 spot in Team India.
But as India A tours begin, he is likely to be given opportunities. If he manages to impress, he may still be called up to Team India.
But India are not playing many Test matches this year as the focus is on T20 World Cup.

Ranji Trophy Quarterfinals Live: In form of his life but runs ‘NOT ENOUGH’ for Sarfaraz Khan, selector says ‘He needs to improve fitness’

“Look, we are not playing a lot of Tests this year. After England, the next Test will be Bangladesh and then Australia. If he continues to do well, we will see how it goes,” the selection committee member said.

Who is Sarfaraz Khan competing against: