Chennai, Feb. 11: Gautam Gambhir’s role will not be dissimilar to the one Rahul Dravid donned in the 2003 World Cup. Amidst gifted strikers, Gambhir will have to shelve his own natural instincts and look at playing through the quota of overs.
At number three, he will be the binding force especially when the batting that follows him is likely to float. The left-hander will be the crucial element for the tournament favourites.
Strengths
Adaptability: There aren’t many batsmen in the world who can stick their chest out in all three formats of the game. Gambhir is blessed with the skill sets to bat out a day and also change the game around in an hour. This facet should come in handy. The opening combination of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag is high on rating points and India require a player to carry the momentum and also play according to the situation if a few wickets are to fall quickly. Fortunately for India, Gambhir can handle both with aplomb.
Temperament and technique: The cool approach usually gets better with rhythm. When Gambhir is on song there aren’t many better batsmen in world cricket. His wide range of strokes and composed approach make him the ideal choice to guide the innings. He has shown often in the past that any target is achievable if there is assurance in method. Gambhir is a swift runner and an improved player on the on-side, making him a dynamite package.
Weakness
Fitness issues? If at all there is one problem area with the southpaw, it has to be his fitness. After his remarkable showing in the one-dayers against New Zealand and the Test series in South Africa, he had to return home to nurse a soft tissue injury.
Face-off
Gautam Gambhir vs James Anderson: Gambhir has been troubled by swing especially at the start of his innings. A bowler like James Anderson who has the knack of moving the ball both ways at appreciable speed could test Gambhir. Both players have important roles to play and it will be interesting to see who gets off the blocks first.