**Sarfaraz Khan to Join Team India in England Post IPL 2025: A Strategic Move By BCCI**
In a decisive yet unsurprising move, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to not include Sarfaraz Khan in the upcoming ‘India A’ tour of England. While the burgeoning talent has proven his mettle on the home ground, featuring in six Test matches since his red-ball debut for India in February 2024, it appears the BCCI has different plans for the 27-year-old dynamic batter.
The decision might seem peculiar to some, given Sarfaraz’s reputation as a formidable player on spinning tracks, which has not been deemed suitable for the seam-friendly conditions of England. Despite being left out of a preparatory ‘India A’ tour to Australia before the highly contested Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Sarfaraz not only made it to the main squad but his inclusion in the squad for the England series has been hinted at by sources close to the Indian Express.
**Sarfaraz’s Schedule Post the IPL Glamor**
After the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, scheduled to finish on June 3rd, Sarfaraz is expected to join the main Indian team partaking in the much-anticipated tour of England. While the ‘India A’ team, comprising talents like Ishan Kishan and Yashasvi Jaiswal, are set to get a headstart against the England Lions at Canterbury starting May 30th, Sarfaraz will be gearing up for a high-profile series starting June 20th.
Missing out on the second practice match at Northampton, the Indian contingent, including Sarfaraz, is due to hold an intra-squad game at Benkenham, ensuring they are match-ready for the forthcoming challenges.
**Monumental Absences in the India A Squad**
Sarfaraz isn’t the only notable absentee from the ‘India A’ roster. Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar, both contemporaries who wore the Test cap alongside Sarfaraz, will miss the tour due to injuries. Padikkal’s sidelined by a hamstring issue, which also kept him out of IPL proceedings, while Patidar suffers from a finger injury that has him pegged as an impact substitute for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at best.
Despite the setbacks and selection strategies, the chessboard is set by the BCCI hints at a meticulous plan to leverage Sarfaraz’s prowess when it’s most impactful. Sacrificing early exposure for a consolidated effort against England, the BCCI seems to be banking on the right-hander’s ability to adjust and deliver in crunch moments.
As we edge closer to the England tour, all eyes will be on Sarfaraz Khan to validate the board’s confidence in his skill on the grand stage beyond the home turf.
Stay tuned as Inside Sport India brings you the latest developments from the cricketing world and follows Team India’s journey in the English summer.
*Will Sarfaraz Khan’s specialized skills turn the tide in favor of Team India on the English pitch? Only time will tell.*
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