# Sarfaraz Khan inclusion no guarantee for playing XI 2026-08-14T07:44:04+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Sarfaraz Khan has been named in the Indian squad as a replacement for injured batter Sai Sudharsan, but that does not guarantee him a place in the playing XI, reports NDTV Sports. The decision lies with head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill, who will weigh the team balance. Sarfaraz, a prolific run-scorer in domestic cricket, has had limited chances in Test cricket so far. His inclusion in the squad has sparked debate among fans, but the team management may opt for a different combination depending on pitch and opposition. ## Coverage - sports.ndtv.com Tags: Gautam Gambhir, Indian cricket team, Ranji Trophy, Sarfaraz Khan, Shubman Gill, Test squad selection Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/sarfaraz-khan-inclusion-no-guarantee-for-playing-xi/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/sarfaraz-khan-inclusion-no-guarantee-for-playing-xi/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.