No comments on the selection of Gambhir's replacement???

[Cricketics]

Mukund has been picked over Rahane which is not a a very poor selection, but definately not understandable. Rahane perhaps deserve a chance over Mukund. NOt that i feel that Mukund would get to play over Vijay, but if there's any possibility of not picking up Vijay, then it should be Rahane for me.

[Online]

opener for opener?

[Cricketics]

Rahane can open too i feel. He has opened in the past.

[cowboysfan]

does it really matter?.Vijay will replace GG and pujara will replace VVS(if he is unable to go).

[Sir john]

Rahane can open too i feel. He has opened in the past.

this time you are wrong,mukund replaces a opener, rahane a middle order batsman.:--D

[ludhianvi]

From the Irani match thread

Mukund's got a nifty 50+ domestic average and he did his reputation no harm on Day 1 scoring his 9th FC century. Look's like a compact player, plays mostly down the ground although doesnt mind guiding a few down the 3rd man or gully region. At times, gets caught on the crease without much footwork. Can play off both the back and front foot against the spinners. Likes the ondrive towards midwicket both on the front and back foot. So basically he can play all the vertical shots. Relies on good timing and looks fairly elegant in his batting approach.

Rahane - very elegant and graceful in his shots. Really good driver..simple effective movements against the pacers- a bit like Tendulkar.

From what I saw in the Irani Match, both looked good albeit on a flattish track. Mukund was perhaps guilty of playing a lot through the 3rd man/ gully region. Rahane looked to be a bit more of a complete player. Yeah Rahane has opened a few times but then went on to play at the #3 position. Perhaps he looks to be a bit more settled at that position. Both have been good in the last two seasons but Mukund had a fairly subdued last Ranji season whereas Rahane actually stayed at the top in the last two season. Note to the opposition: Put a short midwicket for Rahane against the spinners :sherlock: But who ever was selected is probably just going to warm the benches and miss out on the Challenger's Trophy.

[Online]

unless someone steps on a ball on the morning of day 1 of the test match or gets injured playing soccer I really want to see Pujara get a go though it won't happen in this series

[vvvslaxman]

Rahane looks a better player. He also looked good in IPL during his brief appearances. But i am yet to see Mukund's batting. Yuvi also complemented Rahane for his brilliant 191. But international cricket is a different cup of tea. Especially playing alongside the current Indian batsmen can be overwhelming. Most of them are all time greats.

[The Dark Horse]

^Mukund is a classy player too, he takes some time to get going and never throws his wicket away.

[fineleg]

Rahane sometimes opens the innings, but I think he is not a regular opener. They may have gone with Mukund since he is an opener. Its quite even between Rahane and Mukund - I think both will find their way into the Indian squad eventually.

[Ram]

Just seeing the pattern of selection in the recent times, it seems as though the selectors have identified a group of youngsters they think will be representing India not in the next 3, even 4 years, but maybe beyond that and just want to give them a taste of top-flight cricket, by picking them to be part of squad even though there's very little chance of them being selected for the match. Classic case in point - Abhimanyu Mithun. He actually toiled away manfully in Lanka and didnt do too much wrong, but he was replaced and in comes Unadkat. Unadkat is certainly not going to play in this match, but its a great chance for him to rub shoulders with the greats and get a taste of the dressing room atmosphere. There's probably very little choose b/w Rahane or Mukund, but they probably picked Mukund just so that he can get into the Indian dressing as well. The trend will probably continue for other younger players.