“They keep picking other guys ahead of him”, Ricky Ponting gets disappointed on Indian Selectors for Sarfaraz Khan exclusion.

In a thrilling start to the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle, Team India showcased their dominance with a remarkable victory over the West Indies in the first Test at Windsor Park in Dominica. Led by the outstanding performances of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ravichandran Ashwin, the Indian team outclassed the hosts, securing a comprehensive victory by an innings and 141 runs on the third day of the match.

Yashasvi Jaiswal’s exceptional batting display earned him high praise from Ricky Ponting, the former Australia captain. Ponting lauded Jaiswal’s impressive performances in the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) and specifically highlighted his remarkable knock in the first Test. The 21-year-old prodigy scored an outstanding 171 runs, becoming the third-highest scoring Indian player on debut in Test cricket. Jaiswal’s remarkable performance rightfully earned him the well-deserved title of “Player of the Match” in his sensational Test debut.

Ponting praised Yashasvi Jaiswal quoting “I mean Jaiswal’s IPL was something special. He almost just flicked a switch and turned into a superstar overnight. Everyone knew that he was a talented youngster, but what I saw in this year’s IPL, he’s got all sorts of talent.”

However, the omission of young batter Sarfaraz Khan from the team caused a stir and drew criticism towards the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the selectors. Many questioned the decision not to include Sarfaraz, especially considering his impressive statistics in first-class cricket. Ricky Ponting also expressed his disappointment with the selectors, emphasizing the need to recognize and reward talent based on consistent performances.

“The one I do feel a little bit sorry for is Sarfaraz Khan. The fact that he hasn’t got a look in a Test squad just yet considering he averages in the high 80s I think in first-class cricket, which is absolutely unheard of, but for some reason, they keep picking these other guys ahead of him.”