Team India lost their second match in succession as they were outplayed by South African batsmen yet again on Sunday evening in the second T20I of the 5-match series. The senior players have been rested for the series and the young guns are taking the challenge against the Proteas. While few players have got a maiden call-up in the ongoing series, veteran Indian cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar is not happy with the Indian selectors for overlooking a 24-year-old batsman.
Dilip Vengsarkar backs 24-year old’s selection in Test team
The player Dilip Vengsarkar is talking about was also a part of the 2022 season of the Indian Premier League and represented Delhi Capitals. Though he couldn’t work his magic in the IPL, the batsman has been in scintillating form in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, accumulating runs like anything. Sarfaraz Khan has scored a whopping 704 runs in just five innings at an amazing average of 140.83.
Interestingly, this is not the first time Sarfaraz has played such brand of cricket in the domestic tournament. In the last season of the Ranji Trophy, Sarfaraz piled up 928 runs in nine innings and the youngster is on second position now as far as his overall average in the tournament is concerned. With an average of 80.43 in 23 innings, he is only behind the legend Don Bradman who boasts of an average of 95.14.
“He should have been playing for India at the moment. He has scored tons of runs every time (in Ranji Trophy). And if the selectors are still not convinced, then I am really surprised. I have seen him since he was 12. He is a street-smart cricketer. He is always hungry for success. He is very fit and the most important thing is that he can play long innings, said Dilip Vengsarkar during his interview with Khaleej Times in Dubai.
Highest batting average in first-class cricket (min: 2000 runs):
95.14 – Don Bradman
80.42 – Sarfaraz Khan
71.64 – Vijay Merchant
69.86 – George Headley
69.02 – Bahir Shah— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) June 7, 2022
Sarfaraz Khan in the last 13 innings in Ranji trophy:-
•Innings – 13
•Runs – 1624
•Average – 162.4
•100s – 6
•50s – 3
•150s – 6
•200s – 3
•300s – 1Unreal consistency. Phenomenal Sarfaraz Khan. pic.twitter.com/Gp14A45JTU
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) June 7, 2022
Sarfaraz Khan is reaping the rewards of his hard work in the #RanjiTrophy ? https://t.co/7zngaymELH pic.twitter.com/ptfsT0S6C7
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 11, 2022
Though Sarfaraz Khan has shown glimpses of his talent in the IPL, he could never really prove himself. However, in the domestic circuit, the batsman has been brilliant and has proved his mettle which has made Dilip Vengsarkar even angrier at the Indian selectors’ ignorance. Team India has lost 2 back-to-back matches in the ongoing series against South Africa and will have to win the next fixture at any cost to keep the series alive.