• Sarfaraz Khan slammed a sensational ton for India A in the unofficial second Test against England Lions in Ahmedabad.

  • Rajat Patidar was picked over Sarfaraz in India's senior squad as Virat Kohli's replacement for the first two Tests against England.

‘Slap on the face of selectors’: Fans react after Sarfaraz Khan slams brilliant 89-ball century for India A against England Lions
Sarfaraz Khan slams 89-ball century for India A against England Lions (Image Source: Twitter)

As the cricketing world was engrossed in the high-stakes battle between India and England in the opening Test match of the five-match series in Hyderabad, another cricketing spectacle unfolded in Ahmedabad, where India A took on England Lions in the second unofficial Test. Sarfaraz Khan, the seasoned domestic campaigner, stole the spotlight with a scintillating 89-ball century in the contest, leaving fans in awe and sparking a wave of emotions across the nation.

The Day 2 play: Sarfaraz Khan slams brilliant century

Resuming their innings at 150/0 in 32 overs after bundling out England Lions for 152, India A asserted their dominance, with Devdutt Padikkal playing a sensational century knock. However, the real showstopper was Sarfaraz, who entered the scene at no.4 and delivered a breathtaking century in just 89 balls. As tea approached, Sarfaraz remained unbeaten on 129, guiding India A to a formidable total of 364/6 (86).

Fans react on Sarfaraz notching up scintillating ton

Sarfaraz’s century triggered a myriad of emotions among cricket enthusiasts. Fans not only celebrated his remarkable achievement but also expressed their frustration over the national selectors’ apparent oversight of the talented batter. Notably, despite consistent performances in domestic cricket over the past four years, Sarfaraz has been consistently overlooked for a spot in the senior men’s team.

The selection debate

As Sarfaraz reached his century, the debate about the selectors ignoring him once again gained momentum on social media platforms. Fans, in their blunt reactions, questioned the rationale behind not including Sarfaraz in the senior team, especially considering his outstanding domestic form. Many supporters expressed disappointment over Sarfaraz not being picked as Virat Kohli‘s replacement for the first two Tests against England, with Rajat Patidar getting the nod ahead of him.

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Calls for inclusion

The social media landscape was flooded with calls for Sarfaraz’s inclusion in the senior team, with fans arguing that his consistent performances and current century should be sufficient evidence of his readiness for the international stage.

Here’s how netizens reacted:

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Vishwanath Hariharan is Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. From breaking news stories to in-depth features and opinion pieces, he has covered a wide range of topics. Vishwanath is very fond of watching cricket. Like many others, he too grew up watching, playing, and imitating his favourite players of the game. MS Dhoni is like a demigod to him. You can connect with him at vishwanath.hariharan@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter & Linkedin.