{
  "id": 671555,
  "title": "IND vs SL: Why does Murali Kartik not pick Sarfaraz? ‘Important…players feel secure’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/ind-vs-sl-why-does-murali-kartik-not-pick-sarfaraz-important-players",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-12T14:37:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/ind-vs-sl-why-does-murali-kartik-not-pick-sarfaraz-important-players-feel-secure-10830299/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "India's cricket team manager, Murali Kartik, has opted to start Dhruv Jurel in the upcoming Test match against Sri Lanka instead of Sarfaraz Khan. The decision is based on the need for consistency and the security of players' positions in the playing XI, according to Kartik. Sarfaraz, who scored a brilliant ton against New Zealand in 2024, has been a regular in domestic cricket but has not been a part of the Indian Test team since November 2024. In fact, he hasn't even played for the Indian A team since last year. Former cricketers, including Mohammad Kaif, have expressed their views on the matter, stating that Sarfaraz has a good record of playing against spin bowlers and should be considered for the starting XI. However, Kartik stands by his choice of Jurel, highlighting his reliability and ability to adapt to various situations.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Why does it suddenly feel harder to get a cinema ticket in the UAE?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/why-does-it-suddenly-feel-harder-to-get-a-cinema-ticket-in-the-uae",
        "published": "2026-08-12T02:07:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}