'Bhai Insta followers badhaye runs nhi' - Fans back Sunil Gavaskar's criticism of India selectors for excluding Sarfaraz Khan from West Indies tour

Sunil Gavaskar & Sarfaraz Khan (Source: Twitter)

Despite piling up runs in first-class cricket over the last few years and having some incredible stats to his name, Sarfaraz Khan has once again been overlooked by the Indian selectors. The 25-year-old was not named in India's 16-man squad for the two-match Test series against the West Indies.

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar expressed his displeasure over this and slammed the selection committee for preferring Indian Premier League (IPL) over Ranji Trophy results. "Sarfaraz Khan has been scoring at an average of 100 in all past three seasons. What does he have to do to be picked in the squad? He might not be in the XI, but you pick him in the team," Gavaskar said.

Sarfaraz had scored 928 runs in the 2019-20 Ranji season at an average of 154 - the second-highest in the history of the domestic tournament. The following season he bettered the stats by scoring 982 runs at an average of 122.75, including four centuries. In the 2022–23 season, the right-handed batsman amassed 556 runs in six games at an average of 92.66.

Stop playing Ranji Trophy: Gavaskar questions importance of India's domestic tournament

The youngster has scored 3,505 runs in 37 first-class matches at an average of 79.65, including 13 hundreds. However, Sarfaraz, who played for Delhi Capitals last season, could not play an impressive innings in his IPL career. This prompted Gavaskar to tell Sarfaraz to stop playing Ranji cricket while raising questions about the importance of India's premier domestic tournament.

"Tell him that his performances are being recognised. Otherwise, stop playing Ranji Trophy. Say, it's of no use, you just play IPL and think you are good enough for the red-ball game as well."

Other youngsters, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal, made it to the Test squad for the Caribbean tour, which starts in July. Both have performed well in the 16th edition of IPL.

India’s Test squad vs West Indies: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini.

Here's how fans reacted to Sunil Gavaskar's statements: 

For selection, he has to sleep on sofas first or get atleast 2-3 million followers on instagram. 🙄🙄

— Jaise ko taisa 🤷 (@candidtruth12) June 24, 2023

Exactly !!!
Or else scrap Ranji cricket
Because seriously Ranji cricket heroics are not getting awarded seriously

— DC HYPE (@17xDC) June 24, 2023

Selection is based on no. Of Instagram followers 🤣🔥🔥

— AK (@MUSIQUANTA) June 24, 2023

All he has to do is change his name lol

— amitvij (@amitvij123) June 24, 2023

absolutely one got to feel sad for #SarfarazKhan ... What evil he has done to not include in test side, a side playing consistently #ranji and scoring tons of runs.....

— vinodh kumar Patnam (@patnam_vinodh) June 24, 2023

Test team being selected basis IPL performance.. #TestCricket is surely suffering

— Satwinder Sarai (@satwindersarai) June 24, 2023

BCCI wants six pack abs cricketers.

— Neelabh Pratap Singh🇮🇳 (@authorneelabh) June 24, 2023

Get Sunny G and Wasim sir on the Selection Committee asap!!

— Adish (@AdishG97) June 24, 2023

The downfall of ICT began when squads of all formats began to be selected on the basis of IPL performances. Let them fall some more before getting back to their senses!

— NK (@nirmal_indian) June 24, 2023