Gambhir ‘nervous as a novice’ after recall
KOLKATA: Veteran opener Gautam Gambhir will look to roll back the years following his shock recall for the second Test against New Zealand starting Friday after more than two years in the wilderness. After taking a 1-0 lead earlier this week in the opening match of the threeTest series in Kanpur, India can both clinch the series and seal their return to the top of the world rankings at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. In picking Gambhir, who turns 35 in a fortnight, the selectors have gone for a man who has vast experience of India’s largest venue as skipper of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL). “Nothing beats playing again for d country. Test cricket, whites, red ball and India cap again,” Gambhir said on Twitter after his surprise recall was announced on Tuesday night. “Excitement of a debutant, certainty of experienced, nervousness of a novice...am feeling it all. Eden here I come loaded with ambitions.” Gambhir is guaranteed a place in the starting XI after being called up in place of the injured Lokesh Rahul for the remainder of the series.
The aggressive left-hander, who made his name as half of an explosive opening partnership with the now retired Virender Sehwag, played the last of his 56 Tests on India’s tour of England in the summer of 2014.
But after averaging over 70 in the recent Duleep Trophy domestic championship, he has been given a surprise opportunity to revive his international career.
Apart from Gambhir’s call-up, India could also be tempted to pick an extra bowler following their thumping victory in the Kanpur Test which ended on Monday with a 197-run victory over the Black Caps. INDIA MULL EXTRA BOWLER The spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja shared 16 wickets in Kanpur but the pitch in Kolkata is expected to be more conducive to seam and skipper Virat Kohli has hinted that he may pick an extra bowler.
“Kolkata might not be as slow or turn as much as Kanpur did. We know Kolkata is a much better batting wicket, so we can afford to maybe play an extra bowler there, you never know,” said Kohli.
While Kohli had a disappointing Test in Kanpur with the bat, most of India’s toporder showed good form, with opener Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara striking half-centuries in both the innings.
The skipper said that the first Test had given his side a confidence boost but warned against complacency.
“They are very smart about their cricket and they believe in their abilities and that shows on the field. So we do take an advantage in the second game, but we’re taking nothing for granted,” he said.