Feisty and firm, capricious and correct, insatiable and insecure, Gautam Gambhir is one of the most complete batsmen of the current era. He is adept at opening in all three forms of the game. He can be more aggressive than Virender Sehwag, he can play the kind of back-to-the-wall innings that would do Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman proud, and he can accumulate without taking any risks, much like Sachin Tendulkar has been doing in the last quarter of his career. He walks down the track to the fastest of bowlers, and an unfriendly word or three with the fielding side only help him concentrate harder, though it's not as if he needs external motivation to make the most of his time as a cricketer. He almost lost the fight to his own high standards and to the fickle selectors, which left him "not wanting to play anymore" when he was dropped for the 2007 World Cup, and insecure when he did make it back. For about eight first years of his career, he was the domestic cheque that would not be honoured at international level. While the bowlers on the Ranji circuit swore by this little left-hand batsman, he had just two international centuries to show after 13 Tests and 19 ODIs when he was left out of the World Cup party.He came back with massive runs in domestic cricket, a few important technical adjustments, and with the reputation of being the best player of spin in India, outside the international side. A century in his second ODI back and a final-winning fifty in the inaugural World Twenty20 paved the way for his Test return. Test fifties against Murali and Mendis in the summer of Murali and Mendis in 2008 told him he belonged. In his next 13 Tests, he scored eight centuries: centuries to set up wins, centuries to bat opposition out, and centuries to hold on for draws, including the near 11-hour marathon in Napier. The Arjuna Award came his way, the ICC named him the Test player of 2009, but much more tellingly Sehwag called him the best Indian Test opener since Sunil Gavaskar. The only plausible flaw in Sehwag's claim is Sehwag himself.
Gambhir led India's domination again, with an in-form Kohli continuing to impress. Another comprehensive win, achieved with as much ease, if not more, as the previous game, and New Zealand have been shut out, slipping to their ninth consecutive defeat in completed ODIs. India's seamers set it up with Zaheer marking an excellent return after not playing the first couple of games, and the spinners then doing their bit. On a track that needed at least 270, New Zealand mustered 224 and true to the track's reputation, the chase was easy with Gambhir leading the way. Expect the teams to make some changes in the next couple of games. Stay put, we'll get you the presentation details in a short while.
Time for the presentation.
Vettori: "A good toss to win. The ball seamed and spun and the track was a bit damp. But as the wicket dried out, 224 was never going to be enough. It was really tough early on. The track got better, and India played exceptionally well, with Gambhir leading the way. We were pushing hard to be as simple as possible. The pressure is not off our backs, we have to keep fighting and it's about time we showed we some good players in the team. Our top order needs to stand up, and hopefully that'll happen in the next couple of games."
Gambhir is Man of the Match: "It was an important game because we did not want to give New Zealand any scope for a comeback this series. Zaheer is a quality bowler and he got Brendon McCullum in the first over, and that set up the game for us. Munaf has been bowling well throughout, as well in the Ranji Trophy. It's good for Indian cricket. Any hundred would be important because I have seen a lot of low scores in the recent past. We've decided before the game that this is a three-game series after the first two matches, and we'll try to put the best side forward."
That's it folks. Thanks for your feedback. See you again for a couple of dead rubbers, on December 7 and December 10. Before you log off for the day, catch up on all the action from a full Saturday of Premier League action on ESPNsoccernet, and follow another two games later on Sunday. Also, don't forget to read Sid Monga's bulletin for the match which is up. Okay, adios.
Time for the presentation.
Vettori: "A good toss to win. The ball seamed and spun and the track was a bit damp. But as the wicket dried out, 224 was never going to be enough. It was really tough early on. The track got better, and India played exceptionally well, with Gambhir leading the way. We were pushing hard to be as simple as possible. The pressure is not off our backs, we have to keep fighting and it's about time we showed we some good players in the team. Our top order needs to stand up, and hopefully that'll happen in the next couple of games."
Gambhir is Man of the Match: "It was an important game because we did not want to give New Zealand any scope for a comeback this series. Zaheer is a quality bowler and he got Brendon McCullum in the first over, and that set up the game for us. Munaf has been bowling well throughout, as well in the Ranji Trophy. It's good for Indian cricket. Any hundred would be important because I have seen a lot of low scores in the recent past. We've decided before the game that this is a three-game series after the first two matches, and we'll try to put the best side forward."
That's it folks. Thanks for your feedback. See you again for a couple of dead rubbers, on December 7 and December 10. Before you log off for the day, catch up on all the action from a full Saturday of Premier League action on ESPNsoccernet, and follow another two games later on Sunday. Also, don't forget to read Sid Monga's bulletin for the match which is up. Okay, adios.
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