Gautam Gambhir's throwback to his glorious days with Viru also throws a challenge to the selectors

Indore’s Holkar Stadium was bathed in bright sunshine last week. But still a pall of gloom descended on Gautam Gambhir. A dark shadow was cast on his participation in the game, on his shelf-life in Test cricket, on his international career, and, on his time with the Indian team.

Gambhir was sprawled on the ground, on his stomach, with his arms outstretched. He had dived to complete a second run in India’s second innings after his trademark onside flick had taken the ball to the sweeper. He had made the crease, but had unwittingly put pressure on his right shoulder.

It was the same shoulder he had injured while India was fielding. And he was in excruciating pain now. So much so that he was forced to retire hurt. The injury had occurred late on Day 3 of the final Test between India and New Zealand, with Gambhir in the process of taking one final shot at reintegration within the Indian team.

India's Test team is spoilt for choice right now when it comes to Test openers. In KL Rahul, Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan, they already have three openers engaged in a battle for two spots. Then, other youngsters like Karun Nair and Mayank Agarwal are knocking on the door. Yet, two years after he had last played a Test in England, Gambhir was recalled to the Indian setup after Rahul injured himself in the first Test of the series in Kanpur.

The first rumbles of a comeback

But even at the age of 34 and with around 4,000 Test runs to his name, the feisty Delhi southpaw did not make the playing eleven for the second Test in Kolkata. Dhawan, already in the squad, was obviously preferred. There had been jubilation among Gambhir’s supporters when he had returned to the Indian team. But that elation quickly disappeared. The man with 56 Tests to his name looked set for drinks duty before a return to the circles of domestic cricket.

Gambhir had made it back to the national fold on the back of a solid start to the domestic season. With 356 runs, he had been the fourth-highest run-getter. He had put in the hard work. But he would only get game time when lady luck decided to accompany him.

Then, just before the final Test in Indore, it made an appearance.

Dhawan was ruled out to injury. And what looked improbable a few months ago was all set to materialise.

On the eve of the game, the 34-year-old was the first to pad up at the team’s net session. The left-hander had one of the longest sessions with the bat. Not all his shots were fluent, nor did he connect every delivery, because the nerves were palpable. But he continued for the longest time to give himself the best preparation possible.

Finally, on Saturday, Gambhir had his chance, as he walked out with Vijay to open the innings. India had decided to bat first. The last time he opened for India was back in August 2014. That time too, he had walked out with Vijay. The difference was that, at that point, Vijay was in a battle to cement his place. This time, it was Gambhir’s turn.

Flash and bang

Gambhir knew the importance of this Test. He had spoken about his anxiety when recalled to the squad. He had been rusty in the nets a day before the Indore game. But every negative thought in his mind seemed to have vanished as the opener in him, now with a modified, open-chested stance, marked his return with the perfect square cut off Matt Henry to the point boundary.

In Henry’s next over, the Kiwi pacer decided to test Gambhir with bouncers. He bowled two in a row. But Gambhir was ready. Ready for any challenge and ready to counter it with aggression. He pulled both the deliveries over the ropes. They were the eighth and ninth deliveries Gambhir had faced – on his return to the Indian team, two years after he had last played for the country.

This start was reminiscent of the days of the partnership he had forged with the incomparable Virender Sehwag. Gambhir’s attacking instinct would combine with Viru’s incomparable aggression, leading the duo to terrorise bowling attacks across the world in their heyday.

But times had changed since then. Dhawan, when he enjoyed a flying start to his career, loved to take the attack to the bowlers too. But as his form wavered with time, he became more intent on settling down at the crease before accelerating. Vijay, on the other hand, was never known for being the aggressor. And Rahul, the latest to join the opener’s bandwagon, is only just beginning to find his attacking instincts.

It had become more about a solid start than a destructive one for the Indian side over the last two years. But when Gambhir returned, the intention to unsettle the opening bowlers right from the beginning re-emerged.

Left wanting

The crowd in the first ever Test at Indore relished the start Gambhir had provided. But just as their expectations began to climb, the returning Indian opener missed a Trent Boult delivery that came in and stayed slightly low. The ball met his pad rather than the bat, which meant the Indian opener had to walk back to the hut after being adjudged leg-before-wicket.

The buzzing debut crowd fell silent. And while Gambhir walked back to the pavilion in silence, his anger at not capitalising on his start could almost be heard. He was aware that his paltry 29 would not really suffice as a great score, especially on a comeback. There was also the nagging fear that if India put up a big first innings score, they would not bat again.

It looked like the Delhi leftie’s fears were coming to life as Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane took India to over 500. It was a total big enough for India to not have to bat again. But after Jimmy Neesham stretched the New Zealand innings and score, India decided not to enforce the follow on.

The stage was set for Gambhir’s second, and possibly last, shot at redemption. The only hiccup was that he had injured his right shoulder while fielding earlier in the day. Yet he came out to bat. Only for the dive – to make the crease – to jeopardise his second innings, and, perhaps, his international career too.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Vijay saw off the last bit of the day, and resumed India’s second innings on Day 4. A mix up, however, meant that Vijay was soon run out. The crowd erupted in expectation of the Indian captain, Virat Kohli. Instead, in walked Gambhir. But the crowd continued to roar. They were all on their feet, aware of what this innings meant to Gambhir.

The second coming of Gautam Gambhir

It is not easy to make a comeback at 34. It is even more difficult to get a second chance after the team has posted a massive first innings total and you have failed. And an injured shoulder makes the situation only tougher. But fighters thrive in such situations. And left with no choice but to score a few runs, Gambhir fought.

Not only did Gambhir fight, but he also continued in the same vein as the first innings. He cut, drove, flicked and completed quick runs to give India the quick runs they needed. He turned the clock back once again to his days at the top with Sehwag, completing his half-century in just 55 balls.

Gambhir was out soon after crossing the 50-run mark. On his way back, the incoming Kohli acknowledged his effort with a fist bump. Pujara had started slowly before raising another Test hundred, but it was the left-hander who had given the Indian innings the impetus it needed.

The comeback had not been glorious. It was not probably not what Sourav Ganguly had achieved with his unbeaten 51 against the likes of Dale Steyn, Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini on a damp Wanderers pitch in 2006. Gambhir’s return was marred by injury. But his effort to beat the pain and not give up on his comebackportrayed his grit. That he attacked with his career on the line because the team needed him to was the cherry on the cake.

Once the preferred openers are fit, it will be a challenge for Gambhir to keep his place. But with his performance in Indore, he has offered a glimpse into the days when Sehwag and he would declare war on the bowlers from the word go. And sometimes memories can become real all over again.