Eden expects Gambhir to lead fightback

Indeed,Gambhir is one of the most vital cogs in the Indian wheel. With Rahul Dravid unavailable and a specialist opener like Murali Vijay in the side,it might not be a bad idea to play him at No. 3. South Africa ‘s left-arm spinner Paul Harris choked the Indian run-scoring with his negative line at Nagpur. Gambhir going down the order can be a good counter tactic.

National selector Raja Venkat agrees. “Yes,it’s an idea worth mulling over,especially taking into consideration the fact that he is an excellent player of spin bowling. But it has its side effects. Gambhir going down the order will mean tinkering with the world’s best opening combination. Also,a left-right combination at the top always gives you an advantage. He has just failed in one Test match,and I don’t think that the team management will change the opening combination,” Venkat told The Sunday Express .

South Africans see the Delhi left-hander as a big hurdle,but they are not yet ready to accept him as the unquestionable No 1. “Gautam’s recent performance has been very good,especially in the subcontinent. But he has to prove himself playing around the world. That is his real Test,” Graeme Smith said.

Clearly,the Proteas don’t want to read too much into Gambhir’s run-scoring spree against New Zealand or Sri Lanka ,or Bangladesh . This series separates the men from the boys and against Steyn and Morne Morkel,the Indian opener has scored 12 and 1 in the first Test.

At 28,Gambhir is just about the age when top batsmen start moving to higher echelons. Sachin Tendulkar’s genius defies age but Rahul Dravid,Virender Sehwag,VVS Laxman at the Eden Gardens — everybody’s career has followed this pattern. On Sunday,Gambhir has an excellent opportunity to prove his class.