Sarfaraz Khan’s return to the India national cricket team’s Test squad has been a long time coming. The Mumbai batter was brought back into the setup after Sai Sudharsan was ruled out of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, but this comeback has been built on far more than an injury replacement. Sarfaraz has shed 17kg over the past 18 months and worked extensively on his fitness and batting, including gruelling training sessions at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium in Kashmir after Mumbai’s monsoon made regular outdoor practice difficult.
For Sarfaraz, this recall is another chapter in a comeback that has demanded patience, hard work and a willingness to make significant changes. After spending time in Kashmir, he trained against net bowlers and local state players, while also using private facilities and red-soil tracks to sharpen his game against slow bowling. The work has now earned him another opportunity with India, with the first Test against Sri Lanka beginning in Galle on August 15.
Sarfaraz Khan’s Hard Toil in Domestic Cricket
Sarfaraz had a productive 2025-26 domestic season, scoring 429 runs in nine Ranji Trophy innings at an average of 53.62. He also showed his range in white-ball cricket, finishing the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 329 runs at a strike rate of 203.09, including 19 sixes.
His Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign produced one of the standout knocks of the season when he smashed 157 off 75 balls against Goa, while he later hit a 50 off just 15 balls against Punjab.
The numbers were backed by work away from the middle. Sarfaraz shed 17kg as part of his fitness transformation, a change that has accompanied his push to get back into India’s Test plans.
Sarfaraz Khan’s Record in Test Cricket So Far
Sarfaraz has played six Tests for India and scored 371 runs at an average of 37.10. He has three half-centuries and one hundred, with his highest score being an unbeaten 150 against New Zealand in Bengaluru in 2024.
His numbers are respectable, but there is a feeling that his Test story remains unfinished. He has shown that he can score against quality attacks, and his ability to play spin could become particularly important in Sri Lanka.
How Sarfaraz Khan Can Be a Game Changer in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka could offer conditions that suit Sarfaraz’s strengths. His compact game and ability to attack spin make him an interesting option in conditions where India’s middle order could be tested by the hosts’ spinners. Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has also backed Sarfaraz for the Sri Lanka Tests, pointing to his strength against spin.
Whether he gets into the playing XI is another question, with India having several options. But if Sarfaraz gets the opportunity, Sri Lanka could be the stage where the long road back finally turns into a defining Test chapter.
