Amid widespread criticism over Sarfaraz Khan’s surprise omission from India A’s squad for the upcoming unofficial series against South Africa, the Mumbai middle-order batsman looked to impress on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy second-round match against Chhattisgarh on Saturday, October 25.
Sarfaraz, who until recently was in the running for a place in the Indian Test team, was left out of India’s A unit for two home matches against South Africa. His exclusion has sparked debates among fans and pundits, given his consistent performances in domestic cricket. However, his efforts in the Ranji Trophy match in Mumbai offered little relief as he failed to capitalize on his opportunity.
In an unusual move, Sarfaraz was promoted to bat at number six, a position he does not usually belong to. Unfortunately, he failed to impress and was dismissed cheaply, scoring only one run off six balls. Aditya Sarwate claimed his wicket and Shashank Singh took the catch. The release was disappointing, especially considering that Sarfaraz had reportedly been working hard behind the scenes and had lost as many as 10 kilograms overweight to improve fitness and overall game. With the second innings ahead, he will be hoping for a stronger performance to reaffirm his credentials.
While Sarfaraz struggled, veteran batsman Ajinkya Rahane stole the limelight with a vintage performance. Rahane showed his class and composure to make a brilliant 118 off 237 deliveries which included 15 boundaries. He got valuable support from Siddesh Lad who contributed a well made 80 runs. Together, they helped Mumbai reach 251 for the loss of five wickets by the end of the game, setting a solid platform for the second innings.
Other notable performances on the day included a five-wicket haul by Assam’s Riyan Parag and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s magnificent century for Maharashtra. These individual displays underlined the competitive nature of the Ranji Trophy this season and gave cricket enthusiasts plenty to talk about.
With the match still delicately set up, all eyes will be on Sarfaraz in the second innings as he looks to prove his mettle and silence critics questioning his exclusion from the India A side.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
October 25, 2025
