While the Board Of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to announce the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy due to their ongoing tussle with the governing body over the new revenue models, former India skipper and team director Ravi Shastri feels Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir should be in the reckoning for a place in the team.
With KL Rahul all but out of the tournament owing to a shoulder injury, Team India are set to announce a new partner for Rohit Sharma for the Champions Trophy and while many see Shikhar Dhawan as the front-runner to grab the slot, Shastri has backed Gambhir for the same.
The discarded India opener has hit a purple patch in the ongoing Indian Premier League, scoring 387 runs in 10 outings with the help of four fifties.
“Gambhir has so far been the most consistent Indian opener in this IPL. His batting is still smooth and layered and whenever his bat makes a contact with the ball, there is a run. It’s another matter he could’ve just played as captain and still be worth his weight in gold. Indeed, he has been superb as a leader of his men,” Shastri wrote in his Times of India column.
“As a batsman, Gambhir has been unstoppable. Nobody has hit more boundaries or 50s. His cuts still thread past the pointcover region; his dabs still have third man diving desperately and raking up a laundry bill.That he hardly hits a six tells us about the options he still has at the crease. It’s been a task for bowlers to keep him pinned to one end,” he added.
Not only as a batsman, Shastri also lavished praise on the southpaw for his outstanding captaincy in the tournament. With Rohit Sharma coming at number four for Mumbai Indians and Shikhar Dhawan not looking at his fluent best, Shastri said Gambhir deserves a place in the Indian team.
“Sunil Narine as opener has been an audacious move; Kuldeep Yadav flighting to Dhoni in the 18th over or Uthappa unnerved by his omission in Karnataka state side and making a point in the league is a tribute to the unwavering belief of their captain. This man obviously wants an India berth. KL Rahul is out of Champions Trophy; Rohit Sharma hasn’t opened this IPL and Shikhar Dhawan is now warming up to the task. This 34-year-old could be a good man to have Kohli’s attention,” Shastri wrote.