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Sure, fitness and disciplinary issue both on and off the field led to the selectors ignoring him repeatedly for Test cricket, during his school days he was accused of age fraud, later a bone density check was done and was found to be overaged. Though a second test cleared him. He’s on the heavy side due to the anxiety meds he has to take on regular basis. Call it the side effects.

After being included in the prestigious Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, he was sent on a month-long stint with Hull Cricket Club in Yorkshire. Unfortunately, he was expelled from a BCCI batting camp at the Bandra Kurla Complex due to disciplinary reasons, which further complicated his career trajectory.

The situation worsened in 2015 when Sarfaraz, along with Suryakumar Yadav, was dropped from the Mumbai team after making inappropriate gestures towards MCA officials following a U-19 semi-final victory. As a consequence of their actions, their match fees were withheld for two years, further damaging his reputation

Few years back during a Ranji match where selectors had come to pick the test squad, he showed finger towards them after scoring a ton.

What we fans see is just the tip of the iceberg.

source-1

source-2

Meanwhile Pakistan has tormented WI with spin bowling, times have changed once a country famous for producing fine pacers are winning test matches on spin.

And once we famous for playing spin are now crumbling on spinning tracks. Cricket has changed lol:

With Gautam Gambhir, I thought these shenanigans of BCCI and selection committee will be over. Apparently, I was horribly wrong. It is ingrained in our systems that we treat cricketers as Demi Gods and not see the obvious non performance over a period of time. Motivation of playing for domestic tournaments will only die if performances there do not warrant a knock on the National Side. Very disappointing selection.

Great selection as always!

Sanju : Not selected since he hasn't played Vijay Hazare
Karun : Not selected since he has played well in Vijay Hazare

:D

Agreed that Karun Nair deserves a call up for the Indian squad. But who do you think should be dropped from the present squad? Also, would it make sense to have him in playing 11 straight away in a champions trophy?

Sanju Samson is a different case. He probably should have been the de facto reserve keeper in place of Pant. Why he chose to skip Vijay Hazare is best known to him.

Taking him to the 15 member squad itself would've sent a positive message to everyone our there, that if they perform well in domestic circuit, they will be considered.

Also why not in playing 11? If Nithish/Rana can be selected into BGT test squad based on IPL, Karun also deserve a place in Champions trophy with his current form.

I think Jadeja can be dropped, especially with Axar Patel in the team.

I heard Sanju asked for excluding him from the 2day preparation camp for Vijay Hazare and KCA decided not to play him because of that. We will know the right reason once more news comes out.

How can you select Karun Nair based on 1 great tournament? Others in the Squad have consistently performed at the International level! If someone else inferior in performance to Karun Nair gets selected ahead of him, then thats a different issue.

Samson is away in Dubai training at RR Academy! There could be a case of Selectors now not picking him in view of his absence from domestic cricket.

The team for Champions trophy seems good to me, except the fact we might fall short on pace options in case Bumrah & Shami are not 100% fit. The Indian think tank seems to think the Dubai pitches will be more conducive to spin, which will cause problems for our middle order yet again. We also have 6 right handers in our top 6, which might be an issue too.

Promoting Gill to vice captain is a positive move. I've always felt the VC should be around 25 if we have to groom leaders and not have ad hoc captains. ODI's are Rohit & Kohli's strongest format, hopefully they come good in this tournament

Almost entire test playing squad has made to the ODI list, so either the test selection was fiasco down under or now this for ODI.

One thing for sure, it's a super strong squad on paper with no one in form. Paper tigers ? I guess, these stars will get knocked out and be back home to recuperate for the all important money minting tournament, before again getting drubbed in English summers.

Most probable scenario in CT,

India will defeat Pak;
Pak will defeat NZ;
NZ will defeat India;

So the match against B'Desh would be a decider. lol:

Just because Karun had one good series means that he should be a part of the team? I do not agree with this.

1- Our ODI batting order is one of the best in business as things stand. Karun has no place in it yet.

2- Karun has had a terrible last 3-4 years outside of this Vijay Hazare. He should score a little more consistently to be considered.

I am a little concerned with our fast bowling options, or the lack of. Dubai can be good for seamers at this time of the year. Bumrah and Shami - are they both 100%? Arshdeep and Rana are both untested in ODIs. Risky.

The woes continues for the great hitman even in domestic Ranji cricket, where he fails to get even into double digit score and that too against a minnow team like J&K. What a way to get exposed.

Now keep showing on media how much he's practicing hard and running hard in parks.

Someone has to be blind to pick him, even in a club team.

Oh, even Gill & Jaiswal failed to to score, for their respective teams, shows how important it is to play domestic cricket.

For Gill, it looks like BCCI wants to create a "star" somehow as a replacement of Kohli.

While it may not be that overt, there is certainly a push/need to have a batting icon who can bring in the eyeballs and the advertising revenue. And the need to keep that brand alive as long as possible, simply because there is so much money riding on it. Gavaskar led to Tendulkar, led to Dhoni, to Kohli. With both Rohit and Kohli faltering now, the next icon needs to be anointed soon. I'm guessing it will have to be Pant.

Again, it's not a concerted effort by the BCCI, everyone just makes it happen, for their own ends. News websites need clicks, so a Kohli century gets a lot more coverage and replays than a century by any other player. Things like that. (And obviously not the fault of any player.) Just the way the game works. Trying to sell ad space and ideas to advertisers, none of the big spenders will want to even consider another player (or Bollywood actor) than an established star for their brand. No matter how many other brands they are already endorsing, how expensive they are, and even with the risk of brand dilution. (Forget considering a sport outside of cricket!) And it works, so can't blame them.

We have a culture that needs a superstar, someone to worship. So, like someone so aptly posted some time ago- "We have the stars, but teams like Australia have the trophies!"

But then why Gill?

If I am watching, I prioritize

Jaiswal
Abhishek Sharma (what an innings yesterday)
And even Bumrah for his bowling!

I never wait with bated breath for Gill to walk out to bat, or for that matter even KL Rahul. I know their returns will be mediocre.

But if the 3 I mentioned remain in for a long time, it will be a riot!

To be fair to J&K, I believe they are above Mumbai on the points table clap:

Everything else you mentioned, completely agree. Rohit is way past his prime and if he doesn't do well in the CT, he should just retire gracefully.

Whats the point to play and perform in domestic anyway? Top scorers and record makers are ignored!

This is what domestic cricket exposes to, all Indian stars failed today for their respective teams;

Jaiswal - 4 runs
Rohit - 3 runs
Rahane - 12 runs
Iyer - 11 runs
Dube - 0 run
Shardul Thakur - fighting at 51 Edit - out
Gill - 4 runs
Pant- 1 run
Gaikwad - 10 runs

Aren't some of them supposed to form the back bone of Indian team.

Star studded Mumbai Edit 120 all out;

Punjab - All out for 55 against Karnataka

Delhi - 153/6 against Saurashtra, Jadeja doing what he does best, getting 3 top order including Pant. Would keep an eye on Pujara, if there's some steam left.

I know lately for last 3/4 years J&K has been performing consistently. In fact they started rising on the tables after Ajay Jadeja captained them for few years. But compared to Mumbai, with 42 titles, the legacy they carry, J&K or for that matter any team will always be considered as minnows when compared to Mumbai lol: