Great idea, poor execution
Whatever its critics may say - and they usually point to the lack of spectator enthusiasm - the Challenger Series fulfils a certain role
He scored 145 runs in three innings, including two pivotal knocks in winning causes. Unafraid to play strokes, he also improvised well in the latter stages of innings. That, allied to his displays on the India A tour of England, helped clinch a Rest-of-India berth.
The Yorkshire run-drought seemed to be a distant memory as Yuvraj punished the bowlers on placid batting wickets. The tournament's highest run-getter with 188, including a scintillating 82-ball 111 against India A in the round-robin phase.
He scored 176 runs at well over a run-a-ball, with some exciting, innovative strokeplay. Superb in the field, he can be justifiably disappointed over the Irani Trophy snub.
Made 73 and 61 not out, both in losing causes, while never exhibiting the composure, class and steely nerve that he did during his purple patch a couple of years ago.
Figures of 4 for 144 from 23 overs were hardly impressive, but his ability to move the ball both ways, and the fact that Sachin Tendulkar didn't destroy him, marks him out for further selectorial interest. Whether he's good enough to compete for a new-ball slot is a moot point though. The competition won't always be so badly off-colour.
The pick of the pace bowlers on show with 7 for 126, even if he did get carted around a bit in the second game. His accuracy was his greatest asset, and the no-ball that sent Tendulkar's stumps cartwheeling in the opening game has ensured that his name should be right at the top of the discussion list with Ashish Nehra doubtful for the New Zealand series.
On pitches where almost every bowler got slaughtered, Kartik bowled 18 tidy overs for 84 runs, and one wicket. No little earthquakes, but enough guile and control to suggest that he deserves a run or two in national colours.
Scored only 77 runs in three innings, and is now reliant on past reputation for his place in the one-day squad. The challengers are queuing up, and Kaif needs some big scores. Soon.
After all the hype, his two innings produced 6 runs. A perceived weakness against the short ball was exploited by bowlers like Ajit Agarkar. Back to the nets for Rayudu, the call from the seniors will have to wait.
After starting impressively against the seniors, his bowling was wayward and ordinary in the next two games. Impressed only in patches, and now seems to have slipped behind Balaji and Bhandari in the race for the third seamer's spot.
His 21 overs went for 133 runs, though he did manage three wickets. Unlikely to unseat Harbhajan in the foreseeable future.
He may bat a little better than the other wicketkeeping contenders, but Naidu's wicketkeeping so so shockingly poor that you had to peer closely to make sure it wasn't Deep Dasgupta in disguise. He dropped catches, missed stumpings, and couldn't even gather the ball cleanly for run-outs.