Gautam Gambhir’s return to form during the this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) and Duleep Trophy has bred nostalgia, fans remembered of his role in India’s World T20 win in 2007 and 2011 World Cup final. So much so that many have called for his return to the national side.
With Shikhar Dhawan’s form erratic and Murali Vijay’s Gambhir-like ability to be overlooked by fans despite scoring runs, it is Gambhir’s name that has been spoken as an alternative.
Despite his record in the last six months, the selectors made a sound call by not including Gambhir in the Test squad against New Zealand for two reasons: There’s no-one to replace and he doesn’t fit into India’s future plans.
As a specialist opener, Gambhir is in direct competition with Vijay and Dhawan to partner KL Rahul against the new ball. Rahul has been in the form of his life and is making great strides in international cricket, making him an automatic pick in the starting eleven.
With a crowded middle-order, there’s no reason to push Rahul down the order and in doing so India would risk unsettling one of their most precocious talents in favour of a fading star.
It may be the case that Cheteshwar Pujara is pushed up the order to open with Rahul in order to accommodate Rohit Sharma.
Both captain Virat Kohli and chief selector Sandeep Patil have hinted at this move to play the five bowlers that Kohli favours.
A combination of all these factors mean that it’s virtually impossible to fit Gambhir anywhere in the team. Dhawan, with his revised technique, looked assured in the first Test in the West Indies. Vijay, though, had a bit of a tough time in the Caribbean, but his overall record stands up.
Gambhir also has the disadvantage of being the oldest of the lot vying for a place as a batsman in the national squad. He may deserve a place ahead of Sharma, but that’s like comparing apples to oranges.
Sharma is five years younger than Gambhir and plays in the middle-order. The selectors have shown a desire to give Sharma a longer run because he fits into the long-term vision of the Test team.
In light of recent remarks by Patil, Kohli and Anil Kumble, it will be interesting to see how the selectors will accommodate both Sharma and Pujara. With the five bowlers strategy seemingly the way forward, Gambhir should not hold his breath expecting a spot in the national side.
