The runs have suddenly dried up for Gautam Gambhir and questions have cropped about the compulsive hookers ability to play the rising ball. Gambhir used the break from international cricket,awarded to senior cricketers,to play in Delhis hot weather tournaments. Just 69 runs from four innings in the World T20 wasnt what was expected from Gambhir. Now,with India smarting from the successive debacles at the World Twenty20 and the Zimbabwe tri-series,Gambhir knows he cant afford to fail in the Asia Cup. India open their campaign against Bangladesh on June 16. The big names are back in the side and all the players will be well rested. Ask Gambhir about his recent discomfort against the bouncer and he ducks and avoids a direct answer. I think a lot will depend on the kind of tracks we play on. During the World T20,the pitches supported bounce. There is hardly any time to get ones eye in. But as far as playing in the longer formats go,the mindset differs. However,there is no pre-planned tactic to tackle the rising delivery, Gambhir told The Sunday Express from Chennai. Sachin Tendulkars absence will mean Gambhir will open the innings with Virender Sehwag,something he is looking forward to. A good start to the innings is always important and I have done well at the No.1 position in the past. So I am really looking forward to playing with my Delhi mate, he said. A prolific run-getter for India,Gambhir has been uncharacteristically subdued in the recent past,be it the Indian Premier League or the World T20 in the Caribbean. Then again,Gambhir has always been consistent on the Sri Lankan tracks. In 2008,he scored 310 runs in six innings at 51.66 in the Test series. For me every tournament is new and special. It is important to carry positivity along into every international tournament, Gambhir added. Despite the absence of Yuvraj Singh,Gambhir believed that the middle-order looked solid and hoped the youngsters would chip in with good performances. We might have slipped to the No.2 spot,but I think every tournament is important and we are looking forward to cement Indias position at the top of the ODI rankings.
