Abhinav Mukund flops, yet is made India 'A' captain

MUMBAI: What do you do with a batsman who scores 46 runs in three games at an average of 7.66? You drop him, or put him on alert. Curiously, southpaw Tamil Nadu opener Abhinav Mukund, after notching up scores of 0, 0, 8, 8, 10 & 20 for India 'A' in three unofficial Tests on the Windies tour, and not even featuring in the one-dayers and T20 clashes that followed, has been made captain.
Mukund, on Friday, was appointed skipper of the India 'A' team that tours New Zealand in September-October to play three limited-overs matches, a lone T20 and two four-day first-class games against the New Zealand 'A' side.
While the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane missing out on this tour may have pushed Mukund's case, considering that he is now the only batsman with international experience left in the side, his horrible form is certainly a factor the selectors should have kept in mind before giving him additional responsibility that may further burden the youngster.
Mukund, who enjoys a first class average of 54.05, has played five Tests and it seems the selectors are keen that the 22-year-old recovers form and stakes claim for a recall.
Surprisingly, wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha (Bengal), seamer Parvinder Awana (Delhi), and last season's leading run-getter in Ranji Trophy, Robin Bist (Rajasthan) have been excluded from the squad, after playing in the West Indies.
India's under-19 skipper Unmukt Chand, who is currently leading the colts in the World Cup in Australia, gets his maiden India 'A' call-up.
Squad:
Abhinav Mukund, Ashok Menaria, Naman Ojha, Mandeep Singh, Anustup Majumdar, Ambati Rayudu, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Akshay Darekar, Vinay Kumar, Mohammed Shami Surya Kumar Yadav, Jalaj Saxena, Rahul Sharma, Rituraj Singh Jaydev Unadkat, Unmukt Chand.