3 reasons why India must play Sarfaraz Khan in BGT 2024-25 5th Test in Sydney

Team India are down 1-2 in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) against Australia. The fourth Test in Melbourne saw the hosts securing a remarkable 184-run victory. Now, both teams have headed to Sydney for a mouth-watering contest, with a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final on the line.

The visitors have suffered frequent batting collapses so far in the BGT, with senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli failing to contribute enough to the team's cause. The likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, and Nitish Reddy have responded well to the Australian challenge but lacked support from others.

In this regard, Sarfaraz Khan could be a potential option for the Indian team for the Sydney Test. In six Tests, Sarfaraz has garnered 371 runs at an average of 37.10, while he holds an exceptional average of around 65 in first-class cricket.

On that note, let's take a look at a few reasons why Sarfaraz Khan could find a place in India's XI for the Sydney game.

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#1 Readying him for overseas tours

The final game of the BGT will offer a great chance for the team management to have a look at Sarfaraz Khan's skills on foreign soil. The right-hander holds a credible record at home but is yet to get enough taste of Australian pitches. If the 27-year-old is looked upon as a long-term option in the middle-order, he should have experience of proving his mettle outside India as well.

India's next overseas test assignment is in England, which starts in June. Before that, India will be busy in white-ball games followed by the Indian Premier League. So, Sarfaraz's induction into the XI becomes crucial if the right-hander is expected to be among the hopefuls for the England tour.

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#2 Sarfaraz Khan's technique might be suitable for Sydney's surface

Historically, the Sydney surface has been found to assist the spinners on most occasions. The New Year test isn't going to be different, as spinner Nathan Lyon will see an increase in workload.

Sarfaraz Khan has proved his batting proficiency against the spinners on challenging surfaces in the Ranji Trophy. He is quite adept at disrupting the tweaker's rhythm with his conventional and reverse sweep shots.

The last three days of the game are expected to be spin-friendly, just like the Indian pitches with the sun beating down hard. Being highly accustomed to scoring runs against spinners, Sarfaraz might prove to be a good addition to the side.

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#3 Brings no baggage

Ahead of the Sydney Test, Sarfaraz Khan will have a fresh and clear mindset, unlike the other batters. He does not carry the weight of below-par performances at least in the BGT, which will allow him to focus on prevailing over Australian bowlers.

If given a chance, Sarfaraz will come into this game with no expectations. The young batter can club with keeper Rishabh Pant and use their positive intent to score runs. He slammed 150 and stitched together a 177-run stand off 211 balls with Pant against New Zealand a few months back to fuel India's hopes of winning the game in Bengaluru.

Although Sarfaraz Khan does not hold cthe redentials to succeed Down Under, he might be the right player to thrive against the mighty Australian bowling attack.