The problem with Gautam Gambhir

What seems to be wrong with Gambhir?

Every sportsman has his own share of good fortune and bad luck. All legends have faced their own share of misfortunes and bad times, but it is how a player reacts to the bad times that determines the volume of success he achieves in his life. It is not what a player does during his good times that takes him to the pinnacle of success, as everything goes well during this phase. A mis-hit can fetch you a six, but during the bad times, even a brilliant shot can cost you your wicket.

Gautam Gambhir is no exception to this vicious cycle. Gambhir has been a regular in the Indian team for the last 5 -6 years. It was not an easy path for him to get into the Indian team, as the batting line-up was filled with some of the greatest batsman during that time. He was frequently in and out of the team. It wasn’t easy going for the southpaw from Delhi, who constantly knocked on the doors of the selectors. He could never cement his place in the team. He finally proved his worth in the 2007 T20 World Cup, where he was one of the pillars of that monumental triumph in South Africa. He was the highest run scorer for India in the tournament.

His performance in the shortest format brought back the focus on him. He made a comeback to the Test squad and became an integral part of the ODI team as well. Although his debut was way back in 2003, Gambhir’s true grit and brilliance came to the fore after the 2007 World Cup. He scored piles of runs for India in all the formats and run-making became a habit. Sehwag and him became one of the most successful opening pairs in world cricket. In 2009, Gauti not only was the World No. 1 batsman in Tests, but also won the prestigious ICC Test Batsman of the Year award. Not to forget, he was also part of the World No.1 Indian Test side. His purple patch continued in the 2011 World Cup, where he was once again one of the main architects of that historical win for India. He was also pipped to be the captain on more than one occasion, and is still one of the main contenders for this job.

But what has changed all of a sudden? Gambhir looks a shadow of his former self. Three years without a century in Test cricket is surely what Gambhir never dreamt of. So what is the real problem then? Is it simply that his form has deserted him just as it does to every player, or is it something else? “Form is temporary but class is permanent” can be argued, but is it true that form can simply desert you for three long years? The answer mainly lies in the technique of Gambhir.

Here are some of the flaws that are imminent after so many failures:

a) His feet don’t move the way they should, any longer. His foot moment has been affecting his batting deeply.

b) As an opener, he has completely forgotten the art of leaving the ball alone. The tendency to flirt with the ball around the line of off stump has been his biggest sin.

c) Too much cricket has certainly affected him. He plays all the three formats, and not to forget the lucrative IPL, which obviously takes a toll both mentally and physically.

d)Lack of good domestic cricket practice. With the tight schedule, the chances of playing a Ranji Trophy match against a good side are nil. Domestic cricket is the right place to correct one’s technique and gain some confidence. No matter how much one practices in the nets, good match practice does wonders for a player.

e) The pressure of playing for India and contributing for the team, especially when the team is struggling, has certainly affected him.

f) The team has had a harrowing time in Tests in recent history. The morale is low and public scrutiny is at its peak. It certainly takes a toll on the player.

g)He takes his batting very seriously; perhaps, too seriously. He must re-learn to enjoy his time in the middle. Perhaps he takes his surname “Gambhir” very seriously.

Does he need a break?

These are some of the problems that Gambhir has been facing for a long time now. The biggest problem that he has faced is that he hasn’t found enough time to rectify the errors. Too much cricket and the pressure of performing are the biggest culprits in Gambhir’s case. The selectors should have dropped him long back and sent him back to the domestic circuit, where he could have rectified his errors. But dropping him for such an important series against Australia was uncanny. His replacements, M.Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan, are not experienced enough to fill his shoes. Vijay has been inconsistent all his life, and Dhawan doesn’t have the same skill level as Gambhir. The Australians must be very happy to see the absence of Gambhir.

The results are already beginning to show. Gambhir did something which he could not do for three painful years. A well composed century against Australia the other day must have done his confidence wonders. Gambhir might not be a flamboyant striker of the cricket ball, he doesn’t posses the power of Gayle, Dhoni or Yuvraj, but nonetheless has excelled in all the formats with his sheer class and temperament. He is one of the best players of spin in the side, and is a man for all seasons. He has a tendency to perform on the big stage, which is clearly proven by his innings in both the finals of 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 World Cup. At a time when the Indian team is in a phase of transition, losing a player of Gambhir’s experience, expertise and talent would certainly do no good to the country. One can only hope that the time away from all the pressures of international cricket will recreate the magic in him. It’s high time Gambhir came back to his best as he is too good a player to not be playing at the highest level. As Sehwag once said, “He is the best Indian opener since Gavaskar”; This speaks volumes about the respect and faith his team mates have in him. As a well-wisher of the Indian team, one can only pray for the revival of Gautam Gambhir.