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“Amid a stunning fitness transformation, Sarfaraz Khan is once again overlooked for India A. Congress spokesperson Shama Mohammed questions if bias is at play. Why is a proven talent being left out? The debate is heating up…”
Cricketer Sarfaraz Khan and Congress national spokesperson Shama Mohamed.
New Delhi: Congress national spokesperson Shama Mohammed has openly criticized India head coach Gautam Gambhir for not including Sarfaraz Khan in the India A squad for the upcoming home series against South Africa A.
Sarfaraz, who was recently dropped from the Test team, was widely expected to feature in the India A lineup, especially after Shreyas Iyer decided to take a break from red-ball cricket.
Mohammed took to X (formerly Twitter) to question Gambhir’s decision, raising concerns about possible bias. “Is Sarfaraz Khan not selected because of his surname! #justasking. We know where Gautam Gambhir stands on that matter,” she wrote, alluding to Gambhir’s political association with the BJP. Her post has reignited the debate over Sarfaraz’s exclusion, drawing widespread attention on social media.
Is Sarfaraz Khan not selected because of his surname ! #justasking . We know where Gautam Gambhir stands on that matter
— Dr. Shama Mohamed (@drshamamohd) October 22, 2025
A key point in Sarfaraz’s favor is his improved fitness. The cricketer has undergone a significant physical transformation, shedding considerable weight, which has effectively silenced earlier debates about his fitness levels. Despite these efforts, the selection committee has chosen to overlook him, prompting criticism from fans and cricket analysts alike.
Sarfaraz last represented India in November 2024 during the home series against New Zealand. He was subsequently left out of the away series in Australia and was also not picked for the England tour. Surprisingly, he was not even considered for the recent home series against the West Indies, despite strong performances in domestic cricket.
The senior selection committee, led by chairman Ajit Agarkar, cited injury concerns as a reason for Sarfaraz’s omission from the West Indies series. Sarfaraz had missed both the Duleep Trophy and the Irani Trophy due to a quadriceps injury, although he did participate in the Ranji Trophy representing Mumbai.
“Sometimes you just have to make good decisions. Sarfaraz, I know he got a 100 in the first Test (against New Zealand) and then didn’t get runs. Sometimes these are decisions the team management takes,” Agarkar explained during the England squad announcement. He added that Karun Nair’s consistent domestic performances, along with his partial Test and county cricket experience, made him a preferred choice to fill the gap left by Virat Kohli’s absence.
Sarfaraz’s exclusion has reignited discussions about fairness in Indian cricket selections. Fans and cricket commentators argue that the young batsman has shown both skill and discipline, and his omission from India A appears puzzling, especially given his recent fitness transformation and past performances.
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Shama Mohammed’s public comments have intensified scrutiny on Gambhir, highlighting how political affiliations and perceptions can intersect with sports decisions. Social media has seen an outpouring of opinions, with many questioning the rationale behind sidelining a player of Sarfaraz’s talent and experience.
As the India A squad prepares for the South Africa A series, attention will now shift to whether Sarfaraz will get another opportunity to prove his merit at the international level or if this pattern of omission will continue to haunt his career.
