Sarfaraz Khan shares disappointment over being ignored by the Indian squad despite efforts

In the fifth T20 match between India and New Zealand, held at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday (November 1), Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Varun Chakravarthy returned to the Indian team. However, young player Vaibhavi Suryavanshi once again had to wait for his chance in the starting lineup.

This young athlete, who has attracted attention due to consistently high performance and talent, has not been included in the first eleven for the second consecutive match, raising questions about his future prospects.

Meanwhile, the head coach of the Indian team, Gautam Gambhir, made an important statement regarding the player selection process. He emphasized that his role is not to please everyone, but to make decisions that serve the interests of the entire team. Gambhir noted that in the age of social media, it is easy to make popular decisions, but the management's focus must remain on the correct strategic steps.

Before this match, Gautam Gambhir told Sky Sports that his duty is to make the right decisions, not to follow popular opinions. The Indian coach also hinted that talent alone is not enough to secure a spot in the team. He added that players who demonstrate good results over a long period need to be provided with sufficient opportunities and support. This is why a talented player like Vaibhavi has to wait his turn.

Gautam Gambhir stressed that the team possesses significant potential in the dressing room, but those who consistently show a high level of play should be given extended playing time. His statement is viewed in the context of the current squad, where the management continues to show confidence in the duo of Sandeep Samson and Abhishek Sharma.

India's squad for the fifth T20 included: Sandeep Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (as wicketkeeper-batsman), Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Diar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy. New Zealand's squad for the fifth T20 consisted of: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (as wicketkeeper-batsman), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Devon Jackson, Michael Bresshaw, Mitchell Santner (captain), Nathan Smith, Adam Milne, Jacob Duffy, and Blair Tickner.

The Indian team faces a complex dilemma: how to integrate players in excellent form while accounting for the possible return of Ishan Kishan. The questions concern not only the on-field lineup but also the order of play and rotation policy.

In the third T20 match against New Zealand, the Indian team demonstrated powerful play, giving the opponents no chance. Abhishek Sharma scored 113 runs off 38 balls, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi showed his strength in the squad, allowing India to reach a target of 199 runs in just 13.2 overs.

Thanks to this impressive victory, India gained an undisputed 3-0 lead in the five-match series. However, amidst this success, a difficult question has arisen: if Ishan Kishan recovers and returns to the team, whose place will be taken?

As soon as the wait for Ishan Kishan's return ends, the Indian team may face a selection problem. On one hand, there is Abhishek, capable of changing the course of the match with his explosive playing style. On the other hand, there is Vaibhav, who was fielded at the start in the third T20. Sanju Samson is also a key player who scores runs.

Deciding to drop Abhishek will be difficult given his recent performance. Dropping Vaibhav would call into question the plan to consistently give opportunities to the young batter at his preferred position. Excluding Sanju is also not easy, especially if he is strengthening his position by scoring runs.

The question of Ishan's return is also important. When the player becomes available after recovery, the team management must decide on his inclusion and the role of the other players. The real task is not just choosing one name, but creating a combination that maximizes the strengths of all players.

In the third T20, while Ishan was absent, Vaibhav Suryavanshi got a chance to bat at the top. This sparked a new discussion about the order of play. Vaibhav's main strength is attacking bowlers at the beginning of the innings. Previously, there were doubts about experimenting with his placement at the third position.

However, if the team plans to continue using Vaibhav at the start, it will have to reconsider the batting order of the remaining batsmen. In the third T20 against New Zealand, Sanju Samson batted at the third position. Now, if they maintain the plan with Vaibhav at the start, Sanju may be forced to adapt to a different role.

The situation is complicated by the question: should Sanju give up his preferred position for Vaibhav? Will the team management change the batting order to keep the Abhishek and Vaibhav duo? And will it become harder for Sanju to secure a spot in the squad after Ishan's return?

There is currently no definitive answer to these questions. Nevertheless, it is clear that one player's return may require a review of many aspects of the batting order.

The most important question in this situation relates to the Indian team's rotation policy. India has scheduled 16 T20 international matches from August to December: 3 against Afghanistan, 5 against West Indies, 5 against New Zealand, and 3 against Sri Lanka.

There could be a scenario where the team management predetermines how many matches each player will get, who will rest, and what each player's role will be. If players were informed in advance that they could take a break after four or five matches, the decision to exclude a player would not be based solely on their performance.

This could bring two advantages to the team. Firstly, it would reduce the pressure on key players who play constantly. Secondly, players' roles would remain clear during experiments with alternative squads.

Nevertheless, rotation does not mean that players must be excluded, even with good performance. Management must make decisions based on physical condition, form, opponent, and strategy. But having a preliminary plan could significantly simplify explaining any changes.

There are about two years until the T20 World Cup. This gives the Indian team time to test various batting order options, evaluate players in their roles, and make changes if necessary.

Therefore, the current selection crisis cannot be seen merely as losing a spot for one player. It is also an opportunity for the team management to develop a future strategy. Does India want to promote the Abhishek and Vaibhav duo at the top? What position will benefit Sanju the most? What will his role be after Ishan's return?

Mohammad Shami, an experienced fast bowler who is currently not part of the Indian squad, emphasized that his hopes of returning to international cricket remain alive. Despite not being included in the team traveling to New Zealand, the athlete maintains high morale. The 36-year-old bowler believes he is at the peak of his physical condition, and as long as he plays, his main goal is to return to the Indian team.

Shami openly answered questions regarding his physical fitness. In a conversation with journalists after Bengal's victory over Services in the Ranji Trophy, he stated: 'Sir, we are still at our peak. There is no point in lying. Regardless of who we are, we are at our peak.'

These statements came at a time when questions are being raised about the composition of the Indian bowling attack. There is particular discussion about the need to bring in experienced players in short formats, which has intensified calls for Shami's return. He last played for India in March 2025. Meanwhile, his contemporary Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned to the Indian squad after about four years.

Shami was not selected for the Indian team touring New Zealand. His response to the question of whether selectors had contacted him in the last year caused a wide resonance. He asked: 'Sir, I am not in the Indian team, who will talk to me? And why would they talk to me?'

In this answer, Shami demonstrated an open reaction to his exclusion from the team. However, he refused to consider his absence from the squad a cause for disappointment. In his opinion, the player is responsible for his own preparation and results, so he needs to play as many matches as possible to stay in shape. Shami noted: 'This is not a reason for disappointment. I played the entire domestic season last year and participated in all matches. My goal is to play as much as possible to be ready for upcoming series and tournaments.'

He added that he does not know when or where he will get the opportunity to play for the Indian team. He also believes that participating in domestic cricket helps better prepare for the IPL. Regardless of whether it is domestic cricket or T20 format, his approach to preparation remains unchanged.

Regarding the upcoming ODI World Cup in South Africa next year, Shami decided to refrain from planning too far into the future for now. He stressed that it is much more important to focus on current matches rather than thinking about the future. Shami stated: 'I don't think that far ahead. Today we play cricket. Who knows what will happen tomorrow or what the circumstances will be, nobody knows. There is no point in thinking that far.'

He strongly recommended that players use every opportunity to improve their skills and physical condition. In his view, his full attention is currently focused precisely on these two aspects. This philosophy of Shami is also linked to his current domestic cricket campaign. He aims to maintain his rhythm by playing for Bengal to be ready for international cricket as soon as the chance arises.

Shami expressed happiness over Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return to the Indian team. He suggested that given Kumar's form, he should have been brought back to the team much earlier. Kumar's return, combined with Shami's absence, once again reignited discussions about options for the Indian bowling attack. Nevertheless, instead of making any demands regarding his selection, Shami stated his intention to continue performing on the field.

Shami also demonstrated his commitment to the Bengal team. He mentioned that the team gave him the opportunity, and he would like to end his career with this team. He said: 'This team gave me this name. All this is thanks to this team. When my career ends, it will end with this team. You must be loyal and dedicated. The rest is out of your hands.'

Shami's message is very clear: the decision about returning to the Indian squad does not depend on him, but maintaining physical fitness, playing domestic cricket, and being ready for any opportunity are under his control. Currently, this 36-year-old fast bowler has chosen the path of attracting selectors' attention through his bowling, instead of accepting defeat.