• Sarfaraz has 3,380 runs at an average of 80.47 over 36 first-class games so far.
• He is second only to Sir Donald Bradman in the list of all-time top scorers.
• He was overlooked for the first two Test matches against Australia.

Sarfaraz Khan, an Indian batsman with a first-class batting average second only to Sir Donald Bradman, claimed he cried after being overlooked for the first two Test matches against Australia.

This season, the 25-year-old has been among the most reliable players in the regional Ranji Trophy competition, scoring 431 runs in Mumbai’s first five games. In six games last season, Sarfaraz scored 982 runs at an average of 122.75, including four hundreds. The middle-order batsman has 3,380 runs at an average of 80.47 over 36 first-class games so far.

Only late Australian great Bradman (95.14) boasts a higher first-class average among batsmen who have played at least 50 innings.

“When the team was announced and my name wasn’t there, I was sad the whole day, when we travelled from Guwahati to Delhi, I was feeling very lonely. I cried too,” he was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

Sarfaraz then called up his father Naushad Khan, a coach, for help during the low phase.

“I called my dad to Delhi. He spoke to me, I practised with him, and then felt better.”

For the first two Tests of the four-match series against Australia at home beginning on February 9, Indian selectors revealed a 17-member squad on Friday.

In addition to Ishan Kishan, another white-ball specialist, explosive batter Suryakumar Yadav received his first-ever Test call-up, with Rishabh Pant, the team’s first-choice wicketkeeper, still recovering from a vehicle accident. Jasprit Bumrah, the pace spearhead, was not included due to fitness issues.

“I’m sure they (selectors) had certain plans in mind when they picked the team for the first two Tests,” said Sarfaraz.

“Since it’s not in my hands, I don’t want to think too much about it, otherwise I´ll go into depression.”

Sarfaraz also dismissed suggestions that he was left out because of his bulky frame and fitness issues.

“…I am very fit. Everyone has a different body structure, you can’t change it. I´ve cleared all the yo-yo tests (mandatory fitness test) in the past.”

According to seasoned cricket analyst Harsha Bhogle, Sarfaraz must find the Test ban difficult.

“Very hard on Sarfaraz Khan who has literally broken the door down in first class cricket. You can’t do more than he has,” he said on Twitter.

Former India cricketer Dodda Ganesh also tweeted in support of Sarfaraz.

“Spare a thought for Sarfaraz Khan. I don’t understand what else he needs to do to get into the Test team,” he wrote.

Australia last week named four spinners in their squad for the crunch four-Test series, including rising star Todd Murphy.

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