One of the key reasons why the North Zone versus Central Zone contest is being keenly followed by the selectors is to see whether veterans like Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag can score big, and thus put their name in contention for the Test spot for the tough upcoming tour of Australia, which will kick off next month. While Sehwag continued to fail, falling after getting a start, Gambhir was successful in coming up with a big knock. His 167 was instrumental in North Zone putting up a good fight against Central Zone.
If one goes by cricketing logic, Gambhir should be among the players whose names must be discussed for the Australia series. But, the pertinent question is whether the selectors must take his performances all that seriously. After all, Gambhir has been given numerous chances in the recent past to prove his ability, and has failed to deliver. Gambhir is in his mid-30s now, and seems well past his prime. One wonders how long India can look at him as an option when it comes to the Test opening slot. A decision on looking beyond him needs to be taken fast.
Ever since the England tour kicked off, Gambhir has just not been in sync with his game. The left-hander’s last big knock of note was his 93 against the South Africans at Cape Town in January 2011. He also made an 83 at Sydney exactly a year later, but he hasn’t done much since. There have been a few half-centuries scattered here and there, but not all of them have been convincing. Gambhir’s last Test hundred actually came against Bangladesh at Chittagong in January 2010. His hundred against a proper Test-playing nation actually came against Sri Lanka at Kanpur in November 2009.
What is even more worrying for the selectors as far as the Gambhir is concerned is how poorly he has fared in his recent comebacks. In the two Tests that he featured in England, after being chosen over Shikhar Dhawan, he managed only 25 runs. Not only are these numbers poor, but he also showed no inclination to hang around at the crease. His weak technique outside the off-stump continued to hound him even on his comeback. It did not help that Gambhir was recalled to the Indian side in spite of him having done nothing to prove his form in domestic cricket.
Technique is the big issue, apart from form, as far as Gambhir is concerned. His tendency to poke outside the off stump refuses to go away, and the same was evident in his recent knocks in England. Considering the bounce in Australia, his woes could only increase. The Indian selectors perhaps need to resign to the fact that Gambhir’s game has declined beyond repair. He could still be a force in one-day cricket given his attacking instincts. But for Tests, Dhawan remains a better option albeit an unreliable one. Perhaps, India must look also back at Abhinav Mukund, who was dumped in somewhat unfair fashion.
--By A Cricket Analyst
