JOIN US"I am very pleased with my selection. I had done well (for India A) in Australia (in the Emerging Players tournament), but I know that whatever hard work I have done so far in my career, I have to double it now and am ready for it," the 23-year-old batsman told PTI.
Rahane got the nod after Sehwag was ruled out of the one-off Twenty20 International and the best-of-five ODI series against England because of an ear infection.
Rahane notched up centuries against Australia and South Africa 'A' squads in the Emerging Players' tournament to catch the selectors' eyes after scoring heavily in the domestic season over the last few years and his consistency has been rewarded now.
"I want to thank the selectors for giving me this chance and rewarding me for my performance in first class cricket," he said.
"I am looking forward to joining the Indian team as soon as possible and playing with Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid who are my role models," he added.