Yesterday was the closest the Mumbai opener came as far as making a comeback to Team India is concerned, since being dropped after the Test against South Africa (Kanpur, April 2008). Riding high on a fabulous Ranji Trophy season, the stylish batsman was very much in the reckoning given the prolonged slump in form of India openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. The axe finally fell on Gambhir for the first two Tests against Australia, but Sandeep Patil & Co picked Shikhar Dhawan instead.

Wasim Jaffer