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| Will he make it? Image courtesy: Cricinfo |
After some contributions in domestic matches, the FIGHTER grinds his way to replace Aakash Chopra in test squad. December 2004: First test century. Comparisons with Sehwag. Exciting new aggressive pair. He clicks finally on big stage with a spark.What next? Comes back with a bang in 2005 in ODI circuit scoring a 100 against Sri lanka in comeback match but somthing ailed him in subsequent innings.What was it?
It was an awkward first shuffle that made him a easy bunny to LBW. Just bowl him on legs, he'll flick three and fall on fourth. This had been Gautam Gambhir for you.Some real cameos of good shots but only promise. The plummet continues. Bad. Worse. From 2006 to Feb 2007, runs dry and fingers are pointed at his position, The consequence: Dropped from 2007 World Cup squad!! Later he says: "I didn't want to play anymore. I didn't want to practise. I couldn't motivate myself. " All could have ended there. All could have winded up had India played a stunning tournament there. But India didn't, making it easier for another comeback for the Delhi lad.
Another post world cup Bangladesh tour brought a ray of hope. Back in the side for three one days, he knew he had his last chance. Had he failed there, it would have been tough to come back so quick. In Second one day, he seizes the occasion with a well-timed ton.. Another life resuscitates. But something more than flash-in-the-pan was required.
Big stage beckoned. September 2007, first ever T20 World Cup . The world was watching,The southpaw delivers. The opener performs consistently with a crunch 75 in the nail biting final. This turned it around. A promising player had just shifted gear to a new level. He had made his case.
THE PEAK
Test team elusiveness ended in mid 2008. He makes a heroic image replacing makeshift openers Dravid and Karthik by looking distinctly good when other team failed to pick Mendis spin web ! Late 2008, golden period starts off. the promising fifties finally turn into tons.Dangerously, the Delhi lad hits 8 hundreds in a span of 10 tests. Consistent, Bharosemand , determined -adjectives pour in for the not-just-aggressive batter, who emerges big in world cricket. The next captain or vice-captain, these roles were being associated with the man. In 2009, Gambhir bags the prestigious Arjuna Award and ICC tests player of the year award. The rewards were comig thick and fast. The hard work had paid off. All this while, the awkward moment wanes off. The LBW fall is not that frequent. The fifties are no more cameos. They are 80s and 90s. In 2010, just falls short of Don Bradman's record of six consecutive test tons. By this time, his place was more than sealed. And he didn't sit on his laurels. When India won the coveted World Cup in subcontinent, Gambhir had a big part to play. The big matches saw Gautam coming to the fore and the middle order playing around him. The next captain had arrived big time, said some voices.
PRESENT
Fast forward to 2012: Gambhir hits a rough pathc in tests down under. Makes a strong case in subsequent one days by scoring useful knocks. But late middle order cameos overshadow his 90s time and again. Meanwhile, an in-form Kohli looms large in eyes of future planning-A young man who, in a span of two years, breaks into top 10 of ICC one day batters. When on an afternoon in India, selectors had to zero in on vice-captain, Gambhir loses out to Kohli.
What if Kohli hadn't hit that 133?May be Gambhir's 90s against a fresh attack on dewy morning were measured with the same tool with which match winning middle order cameos were measured. May be he had to wait to get noticed .May be he had to hit a 200 or 300 every time he came in, Whatever the case, as of today, the fighter waits for his chances to lead his side to a big match. A day when he calls the shots. A day when he gets what he deserves. Is anybody watching?
