Former Indian cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar has lashed out at the national selectors for not providing Sarfaraz Khan with adequate opportunities despite his consistent performance in domestic cricket. Sarfaraz, who possesses a 60-plus average in First-Class cricket, has only played six Tests for India.

Vengsarkar said that it is 'baffling' that Sarfaraz has not been backed in any format. The 69-year-old recalled Sarfaraz's knock and his match-defining partnership against England in Dharamsala Test in 2024, saying that his application at the crease led India to a victory in that game.

"It's really baffing for me as to why he's not picked in any format for India, when he has done well so consistently, even for India also when he got an opportunity. Such a talent has been ignored and neglected. It's a real shame! I watched him and Padikkal bat together against England in Dharamshala (in the fifth Test of the 2024 series). It was a crucial session. They batted beautifully and forged together an important partnership (97 off 132 balls), which ultimately helped India win the Test," stated Vengsarkar, as quoted by Times of India.

Noting how big a match-winning asset he is, Vengasarkar mentioned another instance to establish Sarfaraz's mental strength, as the batter helped Mumbai post a massive total against Goa in the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy clash.

"Basically, he's a match-winner. The beauty of his batting or his mental strength that he can easily adapt to different formats of the game, which is such an important and a great quality. I mean, yesterday, Mumbai lost their top-order against Goa, he churned out a brilliant knock, which paved the way for Mumbai's win.

It was a match-winning innings. And if you don't pick match-winners, you can't blame anybody else, but yourself," he added.

Vengsarkar's comments came a day after Sarfaraz whacked a 75-ball 157 against Goa. The squad for India's ODI leg of the New Zealand series is scheduled to be out on January 3.