Be it success and failure, Sarfaraz Khan has seen it all in mere two years of his international cricket tenure. Sarfaraz has proved his batting might for India whenever presented with an opportunity. However, the hapless Sarfaraz has faced repeated selection snub for the last four-five series despite delivering with the bat in the domestic cricket.
The Mumbaikar was questioned about his continuous India snub to which he adopted a philosophical perspective, choosing to no longer fixate on long-term expectations.
I try to stay in the present. I can’t do anything about the past: Sarfaraz Khan on India snub
The 28-year-old right-handed batter's journey over the last year has been a volatile mix of professional highs and emotional lows. Even though he has consistently delivered with the bat, he has been overlooked by the selectors without receiving a definitive explanation for his omission. Despite the lack of clarity from the decision-makers, Sarfaraz has remained dedicated to his craft, refusing to let the setbacks derail his pursuit of excellence.
On the eve of Mumbai’s final Ranji Trophy league match against Delhi, Sarfaraz finally broke his silence on sitting on the sideline. When questioned about how he manages the mental toll of being sidelined, he said that he is focusing entirely on the present moment rather than the frustrations of the past.
“I try to stay in the present. I can’t do anything about the past. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. All I know is that I’m going to go home, bat at home, spend time with my father, sleep at the hotel and play the match tomorrow. I don’t think about the future. I’m going to keep doing what I’ve been doing for years,” he said as quoted by Indian Express.
ALSO READ: 28-year-old star set to be named Australia's all-format captain after Alyssa Healy's retirement call
Sarfaraz’s batting masterclass was on full display during Mumbai's penultimate Ranji Trophy league match against Hyderabad, where he hammered his fifth first-class double century which was instrumental in securing an outright victory for Mumbai, officially guaranteeing their spot in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals.
I want to play for India in white-ball cricket: Sarfaraz Khan
Sarfaraz also revealed that besides Tests, he wants to represent India in the white-ball format.
“I’m working hard on my white-ball game. I want to play for India in white-ball cricket and I’m paying attention to that. I’m also working with Musheer. His bowling complements his batting and vice versa. It’s not a big deal for him. Musheer is going to be the captain of the Indian team one day. I keep an eye on him. He’s young and plays all three formats. When I used to play cricket, my father would go home sad because I couldn’t bowl. But ever since Musheer started playing, my father knows that if he gets out while batting, he can bowl, and if he doesn’t get wickets while bowling, he can bat,” he added.