'Why should I work hard?': Sarfaraz Khan's emotions spill over after India Test snub

'Why should I work hard?' That is the question Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan says he asks himself every morning, despite years of relentless effort, a major fitness transformation, and a domestic record that has repeatedly put him in the national selection conversation.

The 29-year-old's frustration came to the fore on Monday after Mumbai's Ranji Trophy match against Railways, where he spoke candidly about the uncertainty surrounding his India future. 

Sarfaraz, whose last Test appearance came against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in 2024, said the repeated disappointment had begun to make him question the purpose of his demanding routine.

'I wake up every morning and ask myself the same question, 'why should I work hard?'' he told reporters in Mumbai.

Describing his daily schedule, the right-handed batter said he still wakes up at 5 am to train, even when the rewards of his efforts remain uncertain.

He pointed out that his domestic performances have continued to produce runs, including half-centuries and hundreds, but acknowledged that staying motivated to keep pushing himself can be difficult.

Yet one person keeps him going: his father, Naushad Khan.

Sarfaraz said watching his father work hard gives him the strength to return to the field, even when doubts creep in.

He also said he's become familiar with Mumbai's cricket grounds, adding that anyone looking for him would find him at Azad Maidan or Cross Maidan at 6 am rather than at home.

Sarfaraz says he remains available for India

The batter said he has stopped trying to anticipate the selectors' decisions and is concentrating on playing cricket wherever opportunities come his way.

Sarfaraz recalled being called up to the Indian squad for the Sri Lanka tour while he was at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). However, he did not feature in the playing XI. He subsequently returned to domestic cricket.

He was also in India's squad for the Australia tour but didn't make the final XI.

'I don't even understand (it anymore); I am just playing. If they (national selectors) call me up, I will go and play (for India). If they do not call me up, I will play here,' he said.

Sarfaraz also suggested that the team management appears to view him primarily as an option for home Tests. Although he clarified that no selector had communicated this directly to him, he said that was the impression he had gathered while being around the Indian team.

The Mumbai batter, who made his international debut in February 2024, has played six Tests so far, all on home soil.

Overseas hundreds add to selection questions

One of Sarfaraz's biggest concerns is that his performances outside India haven't translated into opportunities on overseas tours.

He cited two significant knocks for India A against the senior Indian side and other opponents during overseas preparations.

Ahead of India's 2023-24 tour of South Africa, Sarfaraz scored a century off just 63 balls against the senior Indian team in Pretoria.

A year later, before India's five-Test series in England, he struck another hundred, scoring 101 off 76 balls for India A in Beckenham.

Despite those performances, he was not selected for either senior overseas tour.

Sarfaraz said he had done enough to show his batting wasn't limited to Indian conditions, but added that selection remained the team management's responsibility.

He maintained that his focus would remain on scoring runs rather than second-guessing the selectors.

New Zealand series remains a difficult chapter

Sarfaraz's last Test appearance came during India's home series against New Zealand in 2024.

His final four innings in the series produced scores of 11, 9, 0 and 1 across the Pune and Mumbai Tests. The low-score run came on spin-friendly surfaces and preceded his absence from subsequent Test appearances.

Reflecting on that period, Sarfaraz pointed to the difficulty of returning to challenging Indian pitches after spending time playing abroad.

He said earning an India call-up after years of hard work in domestic cricket doesn't automatically make it easy to handle difficult turning tracks.

22-kg weight loss and the battle to stay fit

Beyond the selection debate, Sarfaraz has also undergone a major physical transformation. The Mumbai batter revealed that he has lost 22 kg, including an additional 12 kg after an earlier 10-kg reduction.

He said he made the decision himself and was not prompted by any direct instruction from the selectors or team management.

Sarfaraz added that his footwork improved after the fitness work he did during the off-season. Interestingly, he also joked that he batted better when he was heavier, before acknowledging that consistency and form naturally fluctuate.

For now, he says his biggest motivation is simply to remain on the cricket field. Whether it is the Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, IPL, India A or the senior national side, he wants to keep playing.

He also credited his father with standing by him throughout his career, saying the journey to representing India took years of hard work, including several major domestic scores of 250 and 300.

Despite the disappointment, Sarfaraz insists he has no intention of walking away from the game.

His immediate answer to the uncertainty surrounding his international future is straightforward: keep batting, keep scoring and wait for the next opportunity.