Sarfaraz Khan's Test future is in jeopardy as Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir plan for the upcoming WTC tournament - ORSOLTECH

India's embarrassing debacle in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia has certainly forced the national selection committee and the BCCI to make some serious reforms to return the Test side to a dominant position in the traditional format of the game.

India's next Test assignment is against England in June, but the selectors have started making plans to prepare a dominant Test team to win the next ICC World Test Championship (WCT).

Fixing disastrous powers for India's Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 ahead of WTC plans

With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the twilight phase of their careers, the Indian selectors have plenty of options to prepare for the future, as the iconic batsmen could soon take a call on their Test futures.

Also read: 'I was going to retire': Rohit Sharma showed the way for his amazing return to form at the hands of his childhood coach

Days after India's humiliation in the five-match Test series against Australia, Sarfaraz Khan's future in the Indian Test team is said to be in jeopardy after doubts were raised over his technique in the face of the quality of fast bowling, according to a PTI report. Reportedly, Sarfaraz will not be selected for the upcoming England tour.

Sarfraz Khan's approach against high-speed bowling came under intense scrutiny after his dismissal in the Pune and Mumbai Tests against New Zealand last year. The Indian cricket team management is said to be losing confidence in Khan's abilities to deliver quality fast-paced tackles.

Sarfaraz Khan's Test place is at risk for India's tour of England

Adding to the speculation, Sarfaraz was noticeably absent from batting practice during several net sessions, indicating his potential fall in the team hierarchy. With the much-awaited tour of England just around the corner, sources have suggested that Sarfaraz Khan may be dropped from the Test squad.

The PTI report stated the following: “Sarfaraz Khan's style against true fast bowling has always been in doubt, but the way he bowled out in Pune and Mumbai in the home Tests against New Zealand has made the current team management wary. On most grounds, Sarfaraz has not come out to bat during the usual net sessions, which is an indication that he is very low in the pecking order.

Also Read: Harbhajan Singh blames Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir for Jasprit Bumrah's injury during BGT

Indian selectors eye impressive performances in Ranji Trophy 2024-25 as Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajat Patidar and Shreyas Iyer battle for Test spots

Meanwhile, India's three veteran players – Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajat Patidar and Shreyas Iyer – could make a strong return to the Test team. Gaikwad's pedigree is undeniable despite his struggles in India A matches, while Patidar and Iyer have faced challenges but could prove their worth with a strong performance in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy.

The Indian selection committee is said to be looking for impactful performances rather than just the number of runs or wickets, and decisions will be made after the Ranji season ends in February. Additionally, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal and Abhimanyu Easwaran are vying for the positions, especially with the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli uncertain.

Sudharsan, after recovering from surgery, could be a major contender if he maintains his fitness for the second round of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy. While there are multiple options in the batting department, India faces a bigger problem in the bowling department, especially pace.

The fast bowling cupboard looks bare, and names like Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna are not quite the game-changers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma. On the other hand, left-arm seamers like Arshdeep Singh and Yash Dayal are still developing.