Sarfaraz Khan questions the point of continuing grind after Ranji opener at CCI
Sarfaraz Khan said he sometimes questions the point of continuing the relentless grind required to play at the highest level after scoring 55 on the opening day of Mumbai's Ranji Trophy match against Railways at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai on Monday. The Mumbai batter added that watching his father Naushad continue to work for him remains his primary source of motivation.
The 29-year-old spoke amid debate over his absence from India's Test plans despite consistent domestic form, nearly two years after his last appearance for India. Sarfaraz and his younger brother Musheer continue to train under their father, who has been central to their cricketing journeys. He offered his comments after reaching 55 in Mumbai's first innings, providing a window into the mental strain of pushing for an international recall.
"Every morning, I wake up and ask myself the same question: Why should I work harder and go through the same thing again and again? I have played for India. I wake up at 5 am and go to practice. I could play for Mumbai if I wanted to, and I am still playing. Sometimes, that question crosses my mind," Sarfaraz said, describing the routine and doubts that accompany his pursuit of a return to the national side.
"But when I see my father working hard for me, I want to score runs for him now. This is the only thing that motivates me," he added, crediting his father's efforts for sustaining his drive. He also painted an image of his daily schedule: "Everyone knows that if you want to meet Sarfaraz Khan you don't have to come to his home address but you can meet him either at the Azad Maidan or the Cross Maidan at 6:00am," he said.
Sarfaraz made his Test debut against England in February 2024 and went on to play six Tests, scoring 371 runs at an average of 37.10 with one century and three fifties. His highest Test score is the 150 he made against New Zealand in Bengaluru in October 2024, and his last international appearance came against New Zealand in Mumbai in November 2024.
He was included in India's squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia but did not play, and was named as Sai Sudharsan's replacement for India's two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in August 2026 without making the playing XI. On selection clarity, Sarfaraz said he had been told he would be considered for opportunities at home but questioned that approach, stating: "When I went to the Indian team, I heard that I would be given more chances in Indian conditions. But I still have a question. When I went to Africa, I scored 100 runs against the Indian team in 60 balls. When I went to England, I scored 100 runs in 60 balls," he said. "So I think when you come back to India, you get such big rank turners. You struggle so much to get into the Indian team and suddenly you are expected to perform on such difficult wickets. It is not that I haven't scored runs outside India. I have scored runs outside too. That's their lookout, that's their point of view. But my job is to play cricket, and I will continue playing."
Those overseas hundreds came in India A intra-squad fixtures: a 61-ball century against the senior Indian side in Pretoria in December 2023 and 101 off 76 balls in Beckenham in June 2025, matches for which he was not part of the senior touring squads. Sarfaraz also acknowledged the difficulty of readjusting to Indian turning tracks after overseas cricket, and his last four Test innings produced scores of 11, 9, 0 and 1 in Pune and Mumbai in 2024 as India lost both Tests and New Zealand completed a 3-0 series sweep.
On Monday, Sarfaraz's 55 off 100 balls helped Mumbai reach 247 for six at stumps on the opening day against Railways, with Angkrish Raghuvanshi top-scoring on the day with 78 and Siddhesh Lad making 47.
