Dhawal's inclusion is an investment for future: Vengsarkar

Former India skipper and chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar today hailed Mumbai medium pacer Dhawal Kulkarni's inclusion in the Test squad for New Zealand as an investment for the future and felt the tour would be a good learning experience for the youngster.

"Dhawal is an investment for the future just as Ishant Sharma was when we selected him for the England tour in 2007 and did not play a single match there. He's got a high arm action and the experience would help him," Vengsarkar told PTI while reacting to the 20-year-old right-arm pacer's selection.

Kulkarni bagged 49 wickets in his debut first class season, including 42 in the Ranji Trophy, to force his way in. Pointing out that Kulkarni, a product of the Elf-Vengsarkar Academy, was a good choice, Vengsarkar rued the absence of two other top performers, who piloted Mumbai to their 38th Ranji Trophy title this season -- team captain and opener Wasim Jaffer and one-down batsman Ajinkya Rahane.

"I feel Ajinkya and Wasim should have been there by the sheer weight of their domestic performance", Vengsarkar said.

The 20-year-old Rahane, in his second first class season, compiled 1089 runs with a double ton to boot in Ranji Trophy. While the 30-year-old Jaffer, with an experience of 31 Tests behind him, scored 1260 runs that included a triple hundred.