Test series in 2017

[PKBasu]

India starts with a one-off Test against Bangladesh, then hosts Australia for 4 tests.
For the Bangladesh test, Parthiv and Dhawan have been dropped, with Saha and Mukund replacing them. Shami is not yet fit.

[suresh]

The fall and rise of Abhinav Mukund: How Tamil Nadu's captain went from wanting to quit the game to scoring heavily

This is a cricinfo article on Mukund from October 2016. Kind of relevant since he has been chosen for the Indian Test Team. Mukund is only 27 years old!

[prasen9]

Only?

I liked Dhawan. He was a fighter. Despite having technical deficiencies, he did okay in tests. More so abroad than in India. Which is baffling. Maybe he has lost a bit of form during this home stretch. Vijay's record is just slightly better than Dhawan's overall but worse abroad. Rahul's is similar, though with a smaller sample size with a much better record at home and slightly worse abroad. We do need a more technically sound opener and one who can bat abroad. I don't mind trying Mukund to see if he has improved. Then again, this is Bangladesh we are talking about. So, can't read much into it.

[suresh]

Only?

Given that he (Mukund) was discarded 5(?) years ago.

[prasen9]

Got it! Thanks.

[PKBasu]

Kumble has strongly hinted that Rahane will play ahead of Karun Nair at Hyderabad. Rare example of a triple centurion being dropped in the next test.
Rahane is a great test batsman outside India, but his technique against good spin Bowling has been thoroughly exposed, in my opinion. Playing him against Bangladesh is a risk, but I hope he responds with an innings to savour.

[prasen9]

The only other option would be to move Rahane to #3 and play Nair with the hopes that this will strengthen our batting lineup abroad.

[PKBasu]

I would rest Vijay and open with Rahul and Pujara. Nair deserves at least another test after his superb triple century. Vijay's fitness is suspect anyway.

[prasen9]

I would rest Vijay and play Mukund and maybe rest Pujara to play Rahane at #3 and see how they do. I would also go with three spinners including Kuldip in.

[PKBasu]

Surprising decision to go in with three pacers at Hyderabad -- Bhuvi, Ishant, Umesh. Since India have won the toss and chosen to bat first, the pacers will not have that much to do!
Nair makes way for Rahane. Sad for Nair!

[prasen9]

Seems like the pitch has some grass. Really bizarre selection though.

[Omkara]

Who will be the third spinner? Mishra? I doubt. I.haven't followed much of domestic cricket but haven't heard of any new spinner.

[prasen9]

The ones in the reserves are Jayant Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav. Maybe we can pick the three Jadavs and one Jaddu some day.

[Sin Hombre]

Very strange selection on a slow surface.

[Observer]

The current talent pool of Indian Batsmen is incredible. It must be so tough on the players mentally, even a triple hundred doesn't guarantee selection. Its remarkable how far Indian cricket has come.
Its probably for the first time since legendary Hockey teams of Dhyan Chand and Co. that India are comfortable world leaders in a major sport. Amazing times