India, Oct. 22 -- The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday announced the 15-member India A squad for the two-match red-ball series at home against South Africa A, but Sarfaraz Khan was left out. The decision sparked widespread criticism, with social media showing no mercy to the selectors for ignoring the Mumbai batter. Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin shared the sentiment but chose to give Sarfaraz a dose of harsh reality, saying the decision could likely mean that the door has been shut on his return to the Indian Test team.

Sarfaraz made his debut for India in Test cricket in the home series against England last year, where he scored fifties in both innings in his debut appearance. Overall, he played six T...