'His name comes into my best XI' - Kaif backs Sarfaraz Khan's inclusion for Sri Lanka Tests over Dhruv Jurel

Mohammad Kaif has backed Sarfaraz Khan's inclusion in India's Playing XI for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka beginning August 15, 2026. Sarfaraz was named as a replacement for Sai Sudharsan on August 9, 2026, after Sudharsan suffered a stress reaction in his right toe. The batter joined the Indian squad in Colombo before the team travelled to Galle for the first Test.

Kaif argued that Sarfaraz possesses superior technical skills for the conditions at Galle compared to Dhruv Jurel. The former India batter questioned why Sarfaraz had been sidelined after his initial run in the team, emphasising that performance was not the reason for his exclusion from the squad.

"There was a reason he was not allowed to play. Performance was not the reason. There was no reason. That his runs were not getting made, that the bat was not working. He made runs against New Zealand. He came across the field. He was playing well. He was in form. When he scored against England, he had a good start," Kaif said in a video on his YouTube channel.

"Whatever happened in between, he was removed. But now, whoever said that he should come back, I feel that he is thinking for India. India is thinking for cricket. We have to win. We will need good players. We will need good players. We will need good players who play well," he added.

Why Kaif prefers Sarfaraz's technique for Galle

Sarfaraz has played 6 Tests for India, scoring 371 runs at an average of 37.10, including 1 century and 3 half-centuries. His standout innings came against New Zealand, where he scored 150. His last Test appearance was in November 2024.

In the 2025 Ranji Trophy, Sarfaraz was Mumbai's third-highest run-getter, scoring 429 runs in seven matches at an average of 53.62. His first-class batting average of 64.73 ranks among the best for players with at least 50 innings. Kaif highlighted Sarfaraz's record against spin bowling and his suitability for the middle order at Galle, where spin-friendly conditions typically favour batters with strong technical foundations.

"If they follow the trend of backing the players who have already been playing for the team, then they might say, ‘Jurel has been with us already. He hasn’t scored consistently, but we will back him because he has already been part of the team.’ If that is the approach, then Sarfaraz will have to wait. But if you ask me what the best XI is, Sarfaraz’s name comes into my best XI because of his ability to play spin at No. 5 or No. 6. His record against spin is excellent," the cricketer-turned-commentator said.

Sarfaraz's technical strengths against spin bowling

Kaif elaborated on the specific batting skills that make Sarfaraz an asset in conditions where spinners dominate the bowling attack. The former India batter emphasised how Sarfaraz's shot-making range and footwork against spin bowling set him apart from other middle-order options in the squad.

"He also has a wide range of shots. When you get to the fourth or fifth day, batting becomes more difficult, and that is where a player like Sarfaraz Khan can be very useful. He knows how to use sweeps and reverse sweeps effectively. He can hit over extra cover, he is good off the back foot and he attacks spin," the former cricketer said.

The first Test begins at Galle on August 15, with the second Test scheduled to start on August 23, at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.

India's updated squad for the series

Shubman Gill (C), KL Rahul (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi and Sarfaraz Khan.