KL Rahul or Sarfaraz Khan - who should India pick in their XI for 1st Test vs Bangladesh?
There is likely to be a tussle between KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan for one of the middle-order slots in India's playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh, which will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai starting September 19. Rahul featured in the first Test of the five-match series against England at the start of this year, scoring 86 and 22. Sarfaraz made his debut in the third Test in Rajkot.
As per a report in news agency PTI, Rahul is likely to get the nod ahead of Sarfaraz in the playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh despite the latter's impressive performance in his debut international series. The agency quoted a BCCI source as saying:
“For people on the outside, they don’t understand how a team works and what are the systems in place. In his last three Test matches, KL scored a century in South Africa, one of the best Test knocks in recent times and 86 at Hyderabad in the last Test he played before injury."
The source explained that Rahul was not dropped from the team after the first Test against England, but got injured. Hence, if he is fit and available, the 32-year-old will be preferred ahead of Sarfaraz.
Experience (but inconsistent) vs exuberant talent: What Rahul and Sarafaz bring to the table
When it comes to experience, Rahul has the edge. Having made his debut nearly a decade back, Rahul has featured in 50 Test matches. The elegant batter has some fine hundreds to his credit. Seven of his eight Test tons have come away from home - two in Centurion, one at Lord's, one at The Oval, and one in Sydney.
Rahul has also had several low phases in his Test career. As a result, he has managed only 2863 runs in 86 innings at a below-par average of 34.08. The right-handed batter's average in Tests in 2018 and 2019 was in the 20s. Rahul did well in 2021, averaging 46.10, but then experienced another dip and registered averages of 17.12 and 28.60 in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
If we look at the Karnataka batter's Test form in 2024, he has played three innings and has scored 116 runs at an average of 38.66, with a best of 86. The 32-year-old impressed in the first Test against England in Hyderabad before picking up a quadriceps injury. Rahul represented India A against India B in the first-round match of the 2024 Duleep Trophy and contributed 37 and 57.
Shifting focus to Sarafaz, he made a grand entry into Test cricket after a frustrating long wait. The 26-year-old played three matches (five innings) during the Test series against England and scored 200 runs at an average of 50, with three half-centuries.
The Mumbai batter hammered a swift 62 off 66 in Rajkot. He looked good for more but was run out following a mix-up with Ravindra Jadeja. The debutant followed it up with an unbeaten 68 off 72 in the second innings, slamming six fours and three sixes. After a disappointing Test in Ranchi, he ended the series with another brisk knock of 56 off 60 balls in Dharamsala.
These are still very early days in Sarfaraz's career. But if there is one area where he has the edge over Rahul, it is his aggression and somewhat adventurous approach. While such a mindset might not be considered right for red-ball cricket, Sarfaraz has given a glimpse that it can work in Test cricket. And there have been quite a few batters before him who have also tasted success similarly.
Even if we take a glance at Sarfaraz's first-class career, he has scored 4167 runs in 49 matches at an average of 67.20 and a strike rate of 70.95, with 14 hundreds and 14 fifties. The positive approach has worked for Sarfaraz in domestic cricket, although the international arena is a different cup of tea.
Rahul should start, but Sarfaraz must get a fair chance
As mentioned earlier, Rahul was not dropped from the Test team but was ruled due to injury. Now that he is fit, he should return to the playing XI ahead of Sarfaraz. The axe might seem unfair on the latter, but that's how things go in sports. At the same time, the management must ensure Sarfaraz gets his deserved opportunity as and when the chance arises.
Both Rahul and Sarfaraz offer completely contrasting talents to the Indian Test team. In an ideal scenario, Team India would love to have both of them in the playing XI. However, if there is place for only one, the former is ahead in the pecking order. Only just.