Rahane is better than Mukund

[jairamesh]

one word: Pujara, despite a hostile reception by saffers in SA, those two innings on a neon green durban pitch convinced me he has technique to succeed where the likes of Yuvraj and Raina have faltered. Raina was so out of his league even on the batsman friendly Centurion, against bounce, it was embarrassing. So I just hope selectors perceiver with Pujara when he returns, rather just plucking for next one off the conveyor. Hence, whatever Mukund's performance in WI, selectors must reassess for England selection, and not fall into same trap as Raina success in India will translate overseas too. And Pujara has also demonstrated his ability in England already with huge success.

[Cricket Tragic]

That is true, but how many greenhorns should we play in a single side? Best time for youngsters is to make their debut alongside senior players where others can be there to shoulder responsibility incase they fail and hence relieve pressure. A team full of debutantes is no different from a minnow side and each newbie will end up taking too much pressure on himself. Anyways, thats just my opinion.

We still have Dravid and Laxman in the middle order. Besides, it's not like Raina has a lot of experience either.

[Sachin=GOD]

Not getting into the regional debate but Raina does not deserve a test spot. How long will it take for people to realise that Raina is not a test player and will never be one? Watching him bat on a pitch with a bit of bounce is embarrassing. He looks like he doesn't want to be out there.

a certain Sourav Ganguly played for years and years with that problem. Not to say that Raina is in any way equal to Ganguly but if there's one guy in Indian cricket who deserves a Test spot, its him. Also in this series we're already going with many newcomers.

[saneindian]

Mukund being a left hander has gone in his favour. Plus the fact that Rahane has hardly opened in first class cricket in the last 12-18 months would have been another factor. Picking both would have been idea but then one out of Kohli/Badri would have missed out which would have been unfair.

[Sooda]

^ Dont you think Raina could, and should, have been left out?

[Andy]

Why is the OP blaming Poor Saha? This guy has earned his place as a Back up keeper with his performance , not because of CSK lobby. If there is any real 'Lobby' in Indian cricket its not from South, but from somewhere else.

[jairamesh]

Why is the OP blaming Poor Saha? This guy has earned his place as a Back up keeper with his performance ' date=' not because of CSK lobby. If there is any real 'Lobby' in Indian cricket its not from South, but from somewhere else.[/quote'] concur, I think in Dhoni's playing time, the "2nd" w/keeper place is always going to be "pass the parcel around" situation and whoever is the flavor of the month.

[daryl1985]

a certain Sourav Ganguly played for years and years with that problem. Not to say that Raina is in any way equal to Ganguly but if there's one guy in Indian cricket who deserves a Test spot' date=' its him. Also in this series we're already going with many newcomers.[/quote'] If there is one guy in Indian cricket who doesn't deserve a test spot it is him. His performance in South Africa was embarrassing and i felt really sad for him when watching him struggle so badly. I don't care how good he is in ODI's or T20 he is not a test player at the moment. Rahane with his freakish average should have been given an opportunity.

[Midfielder]

If there is one guy in Indian cricket who doesn't deserve a test spot it is him. His performance in South Africa was embarrassing and i felt really sad for him when watching him struggle so badly. I don't care how good he is in ODI's or T20 he is not a test player at the moment. Rahane with his freakish average should have been given an opportunity.

Freakish average in what tournament? If Ranji I would only give it little weight. Duleep or Deodhar trophy is better. My choice is Shikar Dhawan though Mukund maybe fine. Definitely not Rahane.

[expoking]

The truth is that Rahane has been ROBBED of a place in the Test team. This is a guy that probably should have been picked already a couple of times in the past two years, and yet hasn't ever made an Indian team, not even a 16 man team. But not picking him this time absolutely inexcusable. Vijay shouldn't really be there, I don't know how in the hell they can justify choosing both Mukund and Parthiv ahead of him. Shocking.

[Holysmoke]

The truth is that Rahane has been ROBBED of a place in the Test team. This is a guy that probably should have been picked already a couple of times in the past two years' date=' and yet hasn't ever made an Indian team, not even a 16 man team. But not picking him this time absolutely inexcusable. Vijay shouldn't really be there, I don't know how in the hell they can justify choosing both Mukund and Parthiv ahead of him. Shocking.[/quote'] Absolutely.

[vishalvirsingh]

Pujara is the best of the new guys as far as a test is concerned, I wish he wud have been fit n playing in tests and even one days I feel he is better than Badri for both .... Cudnt get in bcos of being unfit ..still team looks Good. We will come to know which of these BOYS have the mental strength to come good as ..all are damn talented but the one"s who are ream MEN will play

[Shane]

Both of them are better than Vijay. Mukund deserves a place and so does Rahane.

[Ramzz]

a certain Sourav Ganguly played for years and years with that problem. Not to say that Raina is in any way equal to Ganguly but if there's one guy in Indian cricket who deserves a Test spot' date=' its him. Also in this series we're already going with many newcomers.[/quote'] The difference being that Dada was prepared to guts it out...he would take blows and he would attack...would keep scoring runs. Raina on the other hand looks meek, like he has already surrendered. He needs to sort his mind out when facing short bowling...he has the ability to cope with it...needs to believe in himself that he can take the short bowling on. At the moment, he is lacking in belief and confidence when it comes to short bowling.

[desi pride 4321]

abhinav mukund is a boring batsman. rahane has a better strike rate.

[rkt.india]

The difference being that Dada was prepared to guts it out...he would take blows and he would attack...would keep scoring runs. Raina on the other hand looks meek, like he has already surrendered. He needs to sort his mind out when facing short bowling...he has the ability to cope with it...needs to believe in himself that he can take the short bowling on. At the moment, he is lacking in belief and confidence when it comes to short bowling.

Dada made his test debut at 24...Raina is still only 23 and has played enough ODIs and also has test hundred and has 100s in every format of the game. He may have problems but I am sure he will work on those because more than technical they are mental battle as batsman can leave as many balls in tests...He will sort out that and will make his short selection better. With the help of coach and team management, he will work out on those. You cannot discard a genuine talent like Raina at this early who has proven time and again in shorter formats as what kind of a player he is with his performances

[kabira]

I think Rahane doesn't open for Mumbai atleast he did not do last year. He should have been in the squad for sure and could have played in middle order.

[rkt.india]

I think Rahane doesn't open for Mumbai atleast he did not do last year. He should have been in the squad for sure and could have played in middle order.

He has been an opener since his U19 days and his initial FC days too,but he was shifted to 3by Mumbai management to give middle order a solidity..same thing happened with Pujara. With rate which talented openers are pushed down to middle order, we will be left with O in future in terms of good openers then who will open. He is an opener first and selectors should pick him as opener and otherwise he can play in middle order as well. He has good technique and plays classy shot.

[Sachin=GOD]

The difference being that Dada was prepared to guts it out...he would take blows and he would attack...would keep scoring runs. Raina on the other hand looks meek, like he has already surrendered. He needs to sort his mind out when facing short bowling...he has the ability to cope with it...needs to believe in himself that he can take the short bowling on. At the moment, he is lacking in belief and confidence when it comes to short bowling.

and how will he sort himself out when he's not given opportunities to play test cricket even when the likes of Goddy, Gambhir and Sehwag are out for the tests?? He's a very talented and more importantly, hard working player so I have no doubts that he will sort his problems. Many a times people have written him off in ODIs but he has proven himself to be a consistent performer over the last few years so he deserves a few chances.

[kabira]

^you make no sense. Mumbai don't have good openers. They moved Jaffer in middle order. It must have been Rahane's choice to bat in middle order since he thought thats best way to get into indian team. I had no idea that Pujara is opener. I really doubt he ever opened for Saurashtra. Saurashtra lacks good openers so if he was opener they wouldn't have moved him down. In short your post makes no sense.