Sarfaraz Khan Comeback Story: As difficult as it is to break into the Indian cricket team, it’s even more challenging to regain it. Sarfaraz Khan endured this pain for nearly 20 months. The same batsman who had raised hopes with his batting at home after his Test debut in 2024 was suddenly dropped from the team… But Sarfaraz refused to give up. He rebuilt his fitness, scored runs again in domestic cricket, and also capitalized on an opportunity with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL.
Now, his hard work has opened the door once again. Sarfaraz has been recalled to the Indian team for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, starting August 15th. Although his place in the playing XI is not yet confirmed, the end of the 20-month wait is in itself the story of a player who, despite being dropped, did not let himself break down.
The opportunity to debut in Team India came in 2024.
For Sarfaraz, 2024 was the year he had awaited for years in domestic cricket. After consistently scoring runs in domestic cricket, he finally earned a place in the Indian Test team and made his debut that same year. Sarfaraz made his mark immediately in the home series against England. He played six Tests and scored three half-centuries. He then played a brilliant innings of 150 against New Zealand, proving that his selection in Team India wasn’t based solely on his domestic record.
But a good start in cricket doesn’t guarantee a long career… Then, suddenly, his bat fell silent, and questions arose. After his 150-run innings against New Zealand, Sarfaraz’s scores in his next four Test innings were 11, 9, 0, and 1.
After a few poor innings, questions arose about whether Sarfaraz would be able to withstand a better bowling attack? Would his game be as effective in overseas conditions? He was included in the team for the Australia tour, but didn’t get a chance to play. He was then dropped from the England tour squad as well. This marked the beginning of the most challenging phase of Sarfaraz’s journey. His return to Team India wasn’t just about scoring runs; he had to prove himself again.
When he was dropped, he decided to transform himself.
After being left out of the team for the England tour, Sarfaraz instead of waiting, began working on his shortcomings. The biggest change came in his fitness and diet. According to his father and coach, Naushad Khan, Sarfaraz made a major change to his diet. He eliminated bread, rice, sugar, and bakery products. He incorporated grilled fish, chicken, boiled eggs, broccoli, and green tea into his diet. This change wasn’t easy. Even his favorite, biryani, was eliminated from his diet.
The results were gradual. Sarfaraz lost approximately 17 kilograms… But it wasn’t just a story of body transformation. The real change was that he decided to rebuild both his game and fitness.
He responded with his bat, not on social media.
After being dropped from the team, Sarfaraz chose domestic cricket instead of debate or rhetoric. In the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he scored runs and even scored his first T20 century. Then, in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he scored a half-century off just 15 balls, setting the record for the fastest List A fifty by an Indian batsman. But Sarfaraz’s real test was with the red ball… and that’s where he responded most forcefully. In the Ranji Trophy, he scored an unbeaten 277, proving he hadn’t forgotten Test cricket. This was his fifth double century in first-class cricket.
In the 2025 season, Sarfaraz scored 429 runs in seven matches for Mumbai, averaging 53.62. This means that the player who once faced questions after being dropped from Team India has returned to domestic cricket and started answering questions with his bat. His first-class average is also around 64.73, which shows his consistency in domestic cricket over a long period.
IPL also provided significant support, CSK provided a lifeline
Sarfaraz’s path to comeback wasn’t paved solely with domestic cricket. After not receiving an IPL contract for two consecutive seasons, Chennai Super Kings signed him for ₹75 lakh. This was another opportunity for him to showcase himself on the big stage… and Sarfaraz signaled early on that he wasn’t going to miss the opportunity.
In his very first match for CSK, Sarfaraz scored a brilliant half-century in just 25 balls. While this innings may not have decided his entire career, it was crucial for his confidence.
A return to Team India
Then came the opportunity Sarfaraz had been waiting for. A little bit of luck also played a part in his return to Team India. Sai Sudarshan, who had emerged as a strong contender for the number 3 spot, was unavailable due to injury. He didn’t recover in time from an injury sustained during India A’s tour of Sri Lanka. This opened up a spot in the Indian team and brought Sarfaraz’s name back into the spotlight. The door Sarfaraz had been waiting in front of for the past 20 months has finally opened… but the real challenge remains.
Will he get a chance in the playing XI?
He has returned to Team India, but Sarfaraz’s place in the playing XI is still undecided. Devdutt Padikkal strengthened his claim by scoring an unbeaten 142 at number 3 in the practice match against Sri Lanka. Consequently, Sarfaraz has been given the final call-up.
