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Journalism of Courage
Gautam Gambhir, opening with Aakash Chopra — a fellow candidate for the vacant opener’s slot in Team India alongside Virender Sehwag — today played an innings that seemed a request to the national selectors not to ignore him after he failed in his Test debut against Australia in Mumbai.
After his 151 off just 198 deliveries studded with 20 boundaries in their Elite Group A Ranji Trophy tie against Gujarat, the Delhi opener is eyeing his big test when a Board President’s XI take on the visiting South Africans in their tour opener.
‘‘Though I failed on my debut against Australia, I thought I was playing well,’’ said the stylish southpaw. ‘‘I have played only one match so I won’t like to comment much on this (the possiblity of being sidelined) but I feel a player should be given enough opportunities to show his abilities and not be discarded after just one or two innings.’’
Gambhir started with a bang yesterday when he sent Sidharth Trivedi’s first two balls of the Delhi innings racing to the ropes. Today Gambhir took over from where he left off, driving, cutting and pulling with elan, raising hopes of a mouth-watering combo if he and Virender Sehwag walk out once again to open India’s innings against the Proteas later in the month.
‘‘My primary aim is to score runs, the rest is not in my hand. I am happy with my knock here but I am looking ahead to the match against the Proteas in Jaipur,’’ he added.
In Jaipur, however, he might not be the favourite to open, because Wasim Jaffer, Sadagoppan Ramesh and Dheeraj Jadhav have been named in the squad and Gambhir might find it tough to make the grade.
The Delhi opener, however, found a sympathetic voice in the form of former India opener and now coach of the Gujarat Ranji team Aunshuman Gaekwad. Gaekwad told this reporter that openers in India are never given time to settle, are always under the scanner and an early failure can spell doom for them. ‘‘Opening is a specialised position. One can’t just pick any Tom, Dick and Harry and ask them to open. The selectors never realised the importance of it earlier and as long as they don’t, things will remain the same as before,’’ said Gaekwad.
On Gambhir’s partner Chopra, who scored only 11 when he got his chance, Gaekwad asked, ‘‘After Chopra’s fine showing in Australia, why did he get the stick in Pakistan?’’
Gambhir also got a vote of confidence, albeit in an alternative manner, when a Gujarat pacer who refused to come on record said, ‘‘Aisi wicket aur samne Gambhir, maar to paregi hi.’’ Gambhir will hope the selectors agree with the sentiment, and feel he can do the same to Shaun Pollock and company.
