New Delhi: Sarfaraz Khan had done little to be excluded from Indias playing XI for the opening Test against Bangladesh in Chennai last week. In his first five innings for India he scored three half-centuries including two consecutive fifties on his debut against England at Rajkot earlier this year. But the middle-order role in the Chepauk game went to the more seasoned KL Rahul who had missed a few matches against England due to injury. Rahul didnt make much of the chance given to him and could score only 38 runs against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium where he was criticized for losing his wicket after scoring 16 off 52 balls in the first innings. However head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma are likely to vouch for him. But he would again be included in the playing XI for the second Test which begins Thursday at Kanpurs Green Park Stadium. As India continues to back KL Rahul for the second Test Sarfaraz Khan is likely to be released for the Irani Cup according to a PTI report. He is expected to join the Mumbai squad for the red-ball contest against the Rest of India in Lucknow with the tournament set to begin on October 1. Look Sarfaraz is the only specialist middle-order batter in the squad. Dhruv Jurel is a keeper-batsman and Axar Patel is an all-rounder. What if there is a need for a concussion substitute? But yes the Irani Cup starts on October 1 and travelling from Kanpur to Lucknow even on September 30 wont be a big deal if the Test match ends early a BCCI source told PTI. The Mumbai Cricket Association though still to formalize their appeal for Sarfaraz Khans release should declare their Irani Cup squad on Wednesday. Once the request is made he is likely to feature in the tournament itself. Suryakumar Yadav who has had a torrid run in his red-ball cricket played just a solitary game in the Buchi Babu tournament and made one appearance in the Duleep Trophy will not make it to the Irani Cup. The India T20I captain along with all-rounder Shivam Dube will also not be available as both are automatic selections for the Indian T20I side that is scheduled to take part in a three-match series against Bangladesh starting from October 3 to 6. Shreyas Iyer following the abject Duleep Trophy campaign that he had means that chances of returning to the Indian Test squad shrink further however will get another chance to impress the BCCI selectors with the Irani Cup. All-rounder Shardul Thakur is also set to return to red-ball cricket in the Irani Cup and will look at this platform to establish himself for Indias squad to take on New Zealand in the home series.