In a surprising turn of events ahead of the second Test between India and England, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced significant squad changes. Sarfaraz Khan, Saurabh Kumar, and Washington Sundar have been added to the Indian squad as KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja have been ruled out due to injuries.
Sarfaraz Khan’s inclusion in the squad marks a dream call-up for the 26-year-old cricketer. His impressive performance against the England Lions in the recent 4-day unofficial Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad earned him the Player of the Match award. Sarfaraz showcased his batting prowess by scoring a brilliant 161 runs off 160 balls, including 18 fours and 5 sixes, leading India A to victory by an innings and 16 runs.
In his 45 first-class matches, Sarfaraz has amassed 3912 runs at an impressive average of 69.85 and a strike-rate of 70.48. His stellar record includes 14 centuries and 11 half-centuries, with a high score of 301 not out achieved in a Ranji Trophy match against Uttar Pradesh in January 2020.
Joining Sarfaraz in the squad is the talented bowler Saurabh Kumar, who caught the attention with a remarkable performance against the England Lions. Kumar picked up 6 wickets in the second unofficial Test, including a 5-wicket haul in the second innings. With 290 wickets from 68 first-class matches, including 15 four-wicket hauls, 22 five-wicket hauls, and 8 10-wicket hauls, Kumar adds depth to India’s bowling arsenal.
The Men’s Selection Committee have added Sarfaraz Khan, Sourabh Kumar and Washington Sundar to India’s squad.#INDvENG https://t.co/xgxI8NsxpV
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 29, 2024
The second Test between India and England is scheduled to kick off on Friday, February 2, at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. As cricket fans eagerly await the showdown, the unexpected changes in the squad promise an exciting and unpredictable contest between the two cricketing powerhouses. Stay tuned for live updates and in-depth coverage as the action unfolds on the field.