Second Wall saves second Test

Had Gautam Gambhir been sitting in a flight for as long as he was at the crease in this second Test,he would have reached back home.....

Had Gautam Gambhir been sitting in a flight for as long as he was at the crease in this second Test,he would have reached back home. Had he sat in his room,he could have watched five back-to-back movies. And the dot balls that he faced during the second innings would amount to a batting side playing an entire one-day and half a T20 innings without disturbing the scoreboard.

If anyone wants to undermine the seemingly modest 137 runs that Gambhir scored,the above association about the 10-hours-43-minutes effort where he faced 436 deliveries should make it clear that the 27-year-old played the watershed innings of his young career as India held on for a draw in Napier on Monday. The statistics about the exact elevation of his stature are impossible to calculate but,post-Napier,Gambhir will be seen in a different light.

Its a less-advertised fact that Gambhir last year had become the youngest active Indian cricketer with a Test double century when he had scored 206 in his home ground in Delhi against Australia. It was a series in which a couple of seniors had retired,and the skeptics had expressed doubts about whether the double-hundred dasher with a strike rate of 50-plus had it in him to get glued to the crease when the need arose.

But after the Napier knock,it can be said that Gambhir is desperately in need of a more serious alias the rather juvenile nickname Gauti doesnt fit this man of substance any longer. And trust his long-time team mate and the stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag to come up with one. I think we can call him the Second Wall of the Indian cricket team. This one comes from north, Sehwag said,as he labelled Gambhirs match-saving 137 as an innings of a lifetime.

Priceless 35

When Gambhir walked into the ground on Monday,he had already been heaped with praise for his 209-ball unbeaten 102. But had he not played 146 more deliveries during which time the Indian dressing room missed a beat when Sachin Tendulkar fell early to wipe out the deficit and put his team on the path of safety,the Second Wall praise wouldnt have come his way. If his 102 runs yesterday were valuable,his 35 today were priceless.

There was just one blemish in the innings when Gambhir was dropped by Ian OBrien at mid-on off the bowling of Daniel Vettori. The disgust on the face of the New Zealand captain was evident as his team failed to pounce on the rare opportunity given by the opener. That missed chance proved to be the vital blow to the morale of a team that hadnt given up hope all through Indias fightback.

Finally,when Gambhir was out lbw to Jeetan Patel,VVS Laxman was into his stride and the baton had been smoothly passed. Later,Laxman and Yuvraj Singh sprinted on the home stretch and it was impossible for New Zealand to catch up. Gambhir had brought back the smiles on the faces of his team mates. What seemed like a major crisis that could have turned the series upside down can now be dismissed as a mere hiccup.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More