Team India wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant will lead the India ‘A’ team in two four-day matches against the South Africa ‘A’ team before the Test series between the two teams. Notably, middle-order batsman Sarfaraz Khan has been dropped from the team despite being a contender for the upcoming home series.
The two-match red-ball series will begin on October 30, with the second four-day match taking place from November 6 to 9. Notably, both the matches will be held at the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru. Sai Sudarshan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Mohammed Siraj and others are included in the team.
India use A-team series as preparation before major Test assignments
India have a habit of playing A-team series as preparation before big Test series. Notably, India A faced Australia A in a red-ball series in Lucknow before their series against the West Indies. Test stars like KL Rahul, Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Reddy and Devdutt Padikkal played in the second game.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir recently stressed the importance of participating in competitive matches to build form and match rhythm rather than relying only on net sessions, be it domestic cricket or A-Series games.
The performance of the Test experts will be especially closely monitored in the upcoming two-match series. Rishabh Pant will aim to get match-ready through these games and secure his place in the senior Test team.
Sarfaraz Khan left out of India’s squad for the upcoming series
Sarfaraz Khan has been dropped from the India A squad for the upcoming two-match series against South Africa A at home. The right-handed middle-order batsman last played for India A earlier this year against England Lions and scored 92 in the first unofficial Test in Canterbury.
Sarfaraz made his Test debut for India against England under Rohit Sharma in February 2024. The right-handed batsman scored 62 runs before being run out. He has scored 371 runs in 11 innings at an average of 37.10, which includes one century and three fifties.
In domestic cricket, the 27-year-old has scored 4,759 runs in 55 first-class matches at an average of 65.98, including 16 centuries and 15 fifties, with a highest score of 301 not out. He will be eager to make a comeback in India’s upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa on home soil.
Fans react to Sarfaraz Khan being dropped from India A team
Meet Sarfaraz Khan:
– He has an average of 65+ in FC,
– He performed brilliantly against England in his debut series when India was trailing 0-1.
– He had scored 150 runs 2 tests ago,
– lost 17 kg weight
– passed yoyo testNot selected for Ind-A, another career of Agarkar and Gambhir ruined!!pic.twitter.com/W6BnG7cceJ
– Rajeev (@Rajeev1841) 21 October 2025
Sarfaraz Khan is not in Indian A team despite performing so well in domestic cricket, I feel bad for him pic.twitter.com/Cmi51DEPsf
– Fan_Virat (@mdTajim99279152) 21 October 2025
Feel for Sarfaraz Khan…!!!!!
He played for the India A team in the England tour, scoring 92 in the first unofficial match but then dropped out due to injury – improved his fitness, lost a lot of weight in the Ranji Trophy (scored a crucial 74) but did not find a place… pic.twitter.com/cLnMWBipcA
– Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) 21 October 2025
Every day, Sarfaraz is kept away from the national team, I hope Bharat Sundaresan feels a little remorseful that he ruined the career of the most brilliant domestic batsman of this decade. https://t.co/ToELwqgN5U
– (@SiddViz) 21 October 2025
I certainly don’t understand how Sarfaraz Khan can’t even make it into the India ‘A’ team! Earlier people used to say fitness etc. but what now? What else does he have to do to make a case for himself? Just crazy! #INDAVsSA
– Mohsin Kamal (@64MohsinKamal) 21 October 2025
I am a bit surprised by the continued absence of Sarfaraz Khan – even from the India A system now, having not been named in the two India A Tests vs South Africa A.
– Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) 21 October 2025
Sarfaraz Khan deserves to at least play for India A.
– Bharat Ramraj (@Fancricket12) 21 October 2025
Sarfaraz Khan scored 92 for India A vs England Lions, then got injured. Came back fit, light, scored 74 runs in Ranji. Still no place in India A team. It’s hard to take. pic.twitter.com/ls6gOJdaP6
– Soyeb Akhtar (@SSA_807) 21 October 2025
Sarfaraz Khan is not getting selected even in India A, what changed suddenly?
– Suraj Pandey (Sunday RCB) (@elsurajpandey) 21 October 2025
After Sarfaraz Khan was dropped from the England tour after the dressing room leak story in Australia, Karun chose him.
Scored 92 against England L (got just 1 game), 100 in intra squad, losing weight worked on his fitness and proved it in Ranji games but still was ignored for India A.
Cricketing decision?-Manoj Dimri (@manoj_dimri) 21 October 2025
What happened to Sarfaraz Khan?
Forget about the main team, isn’t he good enough to play for the ‘A’ team too https://t.co/P0zpwuReq9– wtf (@whatdfrock) 21 October 2025
No Sarfaraz Khan for India A?
not understanding– Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) 21 October 2025
Hello Sarfaraz Khan,
Please announce your retirement from your cricket career.
– Shakur Surve (@Shakurs17) 21 October 2025
Also read: Before the second ODI against Australia, Virat Kohli batted for 45 minutes, Rohit Sharma spent this much time in the nets.
