On the eve of the first four one-day Internationals in the current seven-match series against Sri Lanka, Indian skipper Rahul Dravid’s patent one-liner at the start of media briefings were identical: ‘‘We have decided on the 13 for tomorrow’s match. Gambhir and R. P. Singh have been left out.’’With his maiden ODI hundred in the day/night game at Ahmedabad on Sunday, the left-handed opening batsman from Delhi will surely force the skipper to change his pre-match one-liner for the remainder of the series, at least.Playing his first ODI after a gap of nearly 18 months, Gambhir showed that he would not let go any opportunity to prove his worth. A regular member of the Test squad in recent months after replacing Delhi teammate Aakash Chopra, Gambhir’s century forces the selectors and team management to a rethink on a permanent berth in the ODIs as well.Despite having to sit out the first four ODIs, Gambhir was sure his turn would come in the current series. ‘‘Watching such senior members of the team as Sachin and Viru in action in the middle was a great experience. I have so much to learn from them,’’ was how the aggressive left-hander took things in his stride.‘‘He has been talking to us regularly from each of the five venues. He was always confident of giving a good performance and was just waiting for that opportunity. He never lost faith,’’ said the cricketer’s maternal uncle Pawan Gulati, recalling the frequent conversations he had with his nephew over the phone.‘‘He had no ill-feeling whatsoever when he had to sit out. He always used to tell us that it was a great feeling to be part of a winning team and he was expecting to be given a chance very soon. We are glad that he has lived up to our expectations,’’ said Gulati, who was the inspiration behind a young Gambhir taking to the game.‘‘It’s a great feeling to watch him score a hundred. It’s all due to the prayers and good wishes of his friends,’’ was how Gambhir’s uncle put it.‘‘We were disappointed when he missed a Test hundred against Zimbabwe earlier this year. He has surely made amends for that with today’s knock,’’ Gulati said.While the opener’s mother (Seema) was away in Gurgaon, the rest of the family members, including Gambhir’s maternal grandfather (S. P. Gulati) and sister (Ekta) sat through the afternoon in front of the television at their Karol Bagh home, watching the 93-ball century. Although not an avid cricket follower, younger sister Ekta said Gautam had always sounded very confident when he spoke on phone on the eve of the match.Surely, on the eve of the sixth ODI at Rajkot (Tuesday), Dravid will not take the name of Gambhir while mentioning the two players who would be left out of the playing squad.Gambhir is here to stay, in ODIs as well. And while opener’s slot remains hot, with Tendulkar and Sehwag, The thinktank will have find an alternative for talent.
