Sports

GAUTAM GAMBHIR

THE NUMERO UNO BATSMAN

Gp. Capt. Achchyut Kumar
...................................................

He holds an unique India batting record of consistency which even greats like Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar or Rahul Dravid have failed to achieve. The current No. 1 ranked Test batsman in the world, Gautam Gambhir, is the only Indian batsman to aggregate 300 runs in four consecutive Test series. With seven three-figure innings and an equal number of half centuries in his last 25 Test innings, no one deserved more than this Indian opening batsman to be ranked as the best Test batsman for the time being.

The position of number one is not new for Gambhir since he has held the rank earlier though only for a short period of ten days. It was on July 15, 2009 that Gambhir displaced Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf as ICC's top ranked Test batsman only to find the Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara wrest the position from him on July 25, 2009.

Gambhir had a rather disappointing initiation into Test cricket when he made his debut at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, in the fourth Test of the series against Australia in 2005. In two innings, the Delhi opener could muster just four runs while his Delhi counterpart giving him company on the occasion was just a shade better with a contribution of 13 runs in two innings. However, the overall result of the Test was heartening as in that low scoring match, the Indian spin trio of Kumble, Harbhajan and Kartik played havoc to give the home team a 13 run victory.

Things have changed since then and in the last two years, 'Gauti' as this batsman is called lovingly, has shown a form and class that has placed him in an elite group comprising of the best batsmen of contemporary cricket.

Gambhir's international career started with his break into the shorter version of the game. Two successive double centuries in first class cricket, in 2002, one of which came against an international side made it absolutely impossible for the selectors to ignore Gauti and the way was paved for him to be capped as India's 149th player in One Day Internationals. The dashing left hand batsman thus made his entry into the international arena against Bangladesh in 2003.

Gambhir's international career has not been a smooth sailing. He has been in and out of the Indian team but seems to have become an integral part of the Indian squad since 2008. Measuring just 5 feet, 6 inches from head to heels, Gambhir has never been an imposing personality on the field but then, as the English proverb goes, "Appearances are often misleading". It is the moment that he starts wielding his willow that the opposition has to start taking note of Gambhir's dominating ways.

Gambhir's batting average of 56.73 in the best among the present day Test players and what is heartening to note is that that average is on the rise. Though his strike rate in ODIs is fairly good, it has yet to rise into the 40s for Gautam to be included in the company of class ODI batsmen. On the other hand, while Gautam's average in T20 is 31.23 and should be termed as impressive, his strike rate needs an improvement to be of any real consequence to the overall performance of the team. However, at the time of this article going to press, an impressive 55 of just 26 deliveries not only terrorised the Sri Lankans for some time but also made it clear that Gautam is now in a mood to change gears in the shortest version of the game.

A student of Modern School, New Delhi, Gambhir is from the first batch of trainees who were coached at the National Cricket Academy, Bangalore. What is heartening about Gambhir's performances during the last two years is that his career graph seems to be on the ascent. More than as an individual, Gambhir's career has to be viewed more in light of his partnerships with Virendra Sehwag. Like the 'Jai and Viru' pair of the film Sholay, the 'Gauti and Viru' combination of Indian cricket seems to be absolutely inseparable. The two not only play for India at the international level but also for Delhi and North Zone in domestic cricket and it is not by chance that they even play together for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League. It is, therefore, inevitable that the understanding between the two whether on or off the field is absolutely perfect and adds to their capability of stealing runs right under the nose of the opposition. What has to be appreciated about Gambhir is the way that he is able to change roles while playing in the company of Sehwag.

As a left hand-right hand combination, both are ideally suited for each other in disturbing the bowlers' line and length but it is remarkable to see Gambhir play second fiddle to Sehwag most of the time. However, when his partner seems to be struggling, Gambhir is always there to take charge and lead from the front. Perhaps, it is this one single factor that makes the pair the best opening pair in world cricket, today.

Already involved in nine century partnerships with Sehwag in just 27 Test matches, two of which have been double century partnerships, the opening pair of Gautam and Sehwag has come to stay and selectors should stop meddling with the pair. The consequences were obvious when the two were separated and the way made for Sachin Tendulkar at the opening slot in the last ODI series that India played. As long as the two stay together, it's just, 'Opposition, beware!'

GP CAPT ACHCHYUT KUMAR is General Manager with Forbes & Company Ltd, a company operating from Mumbai since 1767. He has been associated with THE TEENAGER since 1966 as a reader. Achchyut started writing for the magazine in 1974 and has since written over 70 articles and 10 cover stories even when he was moving all around India during his tenure with the Indian Air Force.