‘Why should I get up at 5am?’: Sarfaraz Khan opens up about India’s disdain, motivation and father’s support

Sarfaraz Khan (PTI Photo) MUMBAI: A shrug said it all when Sarfaraz Khan was asked about his absence in India’s Test build-up.The latest insult came when he was overlooked for India A’s three-match tour of New Zealand. This was after he was included in the Test squad for the tour of Sri Lanka as Sai Sudharsan’s replacement.Asked what keeps him motivated despite being repeatedly overlooked, the 29-year-old said he often questions the effort he puts in each day.“Every morning I wake up and ask myself the same question. Why should I work harder? Why do the same things? Why should I get up at 5 in the morning (for training)? I’ve played for India before. So even with the basic effort, I can still play for Mumbai. With that effort, I can still reach those 50s and 100s. So sometimes I start to question it (Abba’s effort, but I think of Abu when I think about it). out there and i’m performing for him so there’s something that keeps me motivated,” mumbai said.Sarfaraz last played for India when New Zealand toured the country in 2024. He was also part of the squad for India’s tour of Australia in 2024-25 but did not get a match Down Under.He added: “At the moment the motivation is to play cricket. I don’t like to sit at home. I think I am made for cricket. Anywhere I get an opportunity…Ranji Trophy, Mushtaq Ali, Vijay Hazare, IPL, or when the Indian team calls me. I just want to play cricket.”When it comes to communication from the national selectors, Sarfaraz feels disappointed that he is counted on only for Indian standards.“The selector didn’t say that directly. But when I went with the Indian team, I heard that they are looking at me more for Indian conditions. But I will question it (I think). I have scored centuries in South Africa and England (during intra-squad matches). In India, you have such big rank-and-file turners. When you come from domestic cricket, you struggle so much. And suddenly you will not be able to play in such difficult cricket… 30-40 runs,” said Sarfaraz, who scored a 100-ball 55 in Mumbai’s Group D opener against Railways at the Brabourne Stadium on Monday.The centuries that Sarfaraz is talking about came during intra-team games. He scored a 61-ball hundred in Pretoria in 2023, while he made 101 off 76 balls for India A against the Indian Test team during the 2025 tour of England.Despite the setbacks, he focused on improving his conditioning and skills in the off-season and also shed a few pounds. He lost 22 kg and now weighs 77 kg, when he once weighed 97 kg. Right now, he is looking forward to scoring points in the domestic season and will be ready for India’s challenge to not be found wanting.But when it comes to Sarfaraz, a snide comment is never far away, even when his career is at a crossroads. “I used to play better when I was fat,” he said cheekily, before adding: “It’s not that I didn’t run. You can’t have the same number of runs every year. Sometimes it’s up and down. As long as you’re out of shape, you don’t have to worry. In fact, my weight was more.”Sarfaraz still boasts a healthy first-class record, having scored 5,354 runs in 66 matches at an average of 63.73, including 18 centuries.He feels that restarting every season is not easy, as is scoring truckloads of runs year after year. All he can do is work as hard as he can. “It is very difficult to make runs. My routine has not changed after playing in Ranji Trophy for so many years. There is no off-season for me… I just keep training. I don’t know how many runs I will make but the hard work I am putting in is the same. Everyone knows that if you want to meet Sarfaraz, you don’t have to meet him at the Maidan or at his Azada home. It is very difficult to restart sometimes success, sometimes not, but this is the work,” he said Sarfaraz.Sarfaraz regrets not having enough support in his quest to place in India. “Everybody knows I don’t have support in my life. Only my father supported me. But that’s okay. I fulfilled my father’s dream (of playing for India). And it’s not like I scored once or twice and played for India immediately. I gave 300, 250, 200 and worked hard to get that opportunity,” he said.