Act 2, Scene 1, Enter - Gautam Gambhir

Tanay Tiwari 11:43 29/09/2016
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  • Gautam Gambhir made his last Test appearance in 2014.

    “I’m disappointed but not defeated; I’m cornered but not a coward. Grit my partner, courage my pride…for, I must fight, I must fight…” – tweeted Gautam Gambhir after the Indian Test squad was selected for the series against New Zealand.

    An Indian team was selected, and yet again his name was missing. But it hurt, this time, more than it did on any previous occasion. Just when everyone was busy extolling the new generation (rather prematurely) as the new heroes of Indian Test cricket, a classic machine was busy churning out some outrageous performances.

    Gambhir, by the end of Duleep Trophy 2016, as the captain of the champion side India Blue, had scored 356 runs from three matches. Speculation was rife that he would return to the Test side for the long home season.

    Yet, when the squad of 15 was announced, Gambhir wasn’t a part of it while others made a cut.

    That night, regardless of his robust character and immense grit, he must have felt weak at the knees. There was very little that he could add, and at 34, Gambhir had put on the best dress only to be told that he was not invited to the Gala.

    2009, NEW ZEALAND vs INDIA, 2ND TEST, NAPIER

    The hosts had piled on 619 runs in the first innings and dismissed India for 305 runs. India were reeling and were asked to follow-on.

    If you were an Indian fan at the end of day three, you would probably have tuned out as a viewer for the next two days, given how such Test matches fare, eventually. But, the more ardent ones, the ones who are quixotic and tell themselves, “what if someone bats throughout these two days, we can still save this”.

    Gambhir, along with VVS Laxman, was going to do precisely that.

    In a coming-of-age innings, Gambhir batted for a marathon 643 minutes, scoring only 137 runs. No batsman had batted for so long in the second innings of a Test match in the preceding 10 years.

    For someone who might as well wear a t-shirt proclaiming “I am impulsive”, this was an even harder innings. But, this is where Gambhir stands out. When the ship starts sinking, he will emerge out of nowhere and get the ship running almost single-handedly.

    After that innings, until 2011, Gautam Gambhir was riding on a jet which seemed like it didn’t need a refuel halt. Every time India needed someone to stand up in the middle and fight it out for them, guess who raised his hand?

    The World Cup final of 2011 will perhaps go down as one of his most phenomenal innings, something he still is unpaid for in terms of credits.

    The night of the final was Sachin Tendulkar’s moment, and in a sense even MS Dhoni’s and Yuvraj Singh’s. But, take yourselves back to that night, would it have been possible without that outrageously determined knock from Gambuir?

    Gambhir, for any side that he plays for, will put everything on the line to win.

    On the evening of 27 September 2016, Twitter was abuzz with news regarding the Indian Test squad. After the first Test, KL Rahul picked up an injury and the BCCI announced that Gambhir would take his place in the squad.

    When they say, hard work is like that stock which guarantees you a return, maybe delayed, but returns nonetheless, they aren’t wrong. In a team that is going through a transformation of sorts, this inclusion is a blessing they so desperately needed.

    Gambhir not only adds experience to the top-order but also is an inspiring influence on the youngsters in the side. The way he has led his IPL franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), is a perfect reflection of his emphatic leadership skills. But what about his temperament? His equation with Test captain, Virat Kohli?

    If you’ve played any sport, at any level with even 10% of Gambhir’s passion, you know that there are moments when adrenaline takes over everything and your will to win transcends every other feeling. And if there are two cricketers who understand this sentiment the best, they are Kohli and Gambhir.

    Gambhir’s inclusion in the side is a positive step forward, given his experience of how the pitches behave and his recent form.

    He offer solidity at the top of the order, but also makes more room for the middle-order to follow. A middle-order, which by the looks of it, needs that cushion of massive partnerships at the top of the batting line-up.

    Gambhir was flying a little above cloud nine when a slump in his form and the rise of Shikhar Dhawan meant that he would sit out of the Indian side in all three formats. And in a dramatic turn of events, he is again up against Dhawan.

    A lot of cricketers give up, for cricket in India can be as cruel a sport as it is rewarding. It takes immense self-belief and grit to hang in there and keep working relentlessly.

    When a number of his peers hung their boots and sat before a camera as analysts, Gambhir decided to train harder. For this was all he knew and an Indian cap on his head is all he wanted.

    They say hard work opens doors for you like nothing else does. Gambhir is a living embodiment of that.

    The stage is set for Gambhir and the clap says, Act 2, Scene 1.

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