"If you have taken him along, it's your duty to try him at least" - Aakash Chopra on Sarfaraz Khan potentially not being considered for BGT 2024-25

Aakash Chopra has noted that Sarfaraz Khan doesn't seem to be in contention for a spot in India's playing XI for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The former player urged the Indian team management to give the middle-order batter a chance if they considered him worthy enough to be in the squad.

The first of the five Tests between India and Australia will be played in Perth from Friday, November 22, onwards. Reports suggest that Team India might look to play KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, and Dhruv Jurel ahead of Sarfaraz.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener opined that the Indian think tank is duty-bound to play Sarfaraz.

"Can Sarfaraz not be considered at all? Although you and I might have less confidence in him, it doesn't make a difference what you, I or the team think about him. If you have taken him along, it's your duty to try him at least," he said (1:55).

Chopra pointed out that Sarfaraz cannot be ignored without being given a chance.

"Without trying, you cannot tell anyone that you are not enjoying playing him, especially a player who is tried and tested. You played him and he scored 150. You played him against England before that and he scored runs. So after scoring runs, you cannot tell anyone that there is a chance and a place but you would play someone else ahead of him," he elaborated.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that batters, unlike bowlers, are not picked for specific conditions.

"Bowlers are conditions-applied but batters are not conditions-applied. Sarfaraz cannot remain a subcontinental batter. If you don't play him here, you will have to play him in England, or else you will have to drop him. Then how will you tell him why you did that? If he can be in the squad of 18 or 19, why not in the XI?" Chopra observed.

Sarfaraz played a 150-run knock during India's second innings of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. He was preferred over Rahul for the last two Tests but was dismissed cheaply in all four innings.

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"It means his chances of playing the first Test match have become slightly bright" - Aakash Chopra on Devdutt Padikkal being asked to stay back

Devdutt Padikkal has played a solitary Test thus far. [P/C: BCCI]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that Devdutt Padikkal being asked to stay back with the team implies that he has a great chance of playing the Perth Test.

"Ruturaj Gaikwad has been sent back. Sai Sudharsan has also been sent back. They have asked only Devdutt Padikkal to stay back. It means his chances of playing the first Test match have become slightly bright. As per reports, don't keep a gun to my head, I don't know for sure, I am only telling what I am reading or hearing, the Indian team don't have confidence in Abhimanyu Easwaran," Chopra said.

The reputed commentator added while Padikkal might bat at No. 3, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Dhruv Jurel will likely follow him in the batting order.

"So Devdutt Padikkal has been asked to stay back. In all likelihood, KL Rahul will be seen opening. You might see Devdutt Padikkal batting at No. 3 and after that, you have Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel. Sarfaraz's name is not there in the top six as of now," Chopra observed.

Padikkal scored 65 runs against England in Dharamsala earlier this year in his only Test innings. The Karnataka batter played an 88-run knock in India A's second innings of the first unofficial Test against Australia A recently.