NEW DELHI — Veteran opener Gautam Gambhir was Tuesday recalled to the Indian Test squad after two years in place of the injured Lokesh Rahul for the remainder of the Test series against New Zealand.
The 34-year-old Gambhir, who last played a Test in 2014 against England, has been picked in the 15-member squad after a good showing on India's domestic circuit.
Rahul suffered a hamstring strain in the first Test and will not be available for the next two matches, said a statement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
"The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Gautam Gambhir as Rahul's replacement for the next two Test matches," the BCCI said.
The left-handed Gambhir, who recorded 356 runs in the recent Duleep Trophy domestic championship, has played 56 Test matches for India since making his debut in 2004 against Australia.
Meanwhile pacer Ishant Sharma, who missed the first game due to the mosquito-borne disease chikungunya, was also ruled out of the second Test starting Friday in Kolkata.
Off-spinner Jayant Yadav has been named as Sharma's replacement.
India leads the three-match series 1-0 after a 197-run triumph against New Zealand in Kanpur.
Pujara going strong
Of all the things that went right in the Test series opener against New Zealand, Cheteshwar Pujara's transformation from an obdurate accumulator of runs to a free-scoring batsman when needed must be the most pleasing for India captain Virat Kohli.
In a team teeming with flamboyant strokemakers, Pujara's batting, built on a watertight defense and an unflappable temperament, is almost an anachronism.
India's Test number three feels he has no obligation to quench the boundary-thirst of the home fans, shuns the aerial route like a man inflicted with the fear of flying and believes defense is the best offense.
Rather unsurprisingly, the 29-year-old went unsold in the players' auction for the Indian Premier League (IPL), and his strike rate, currently under 49 in Tests, led to his exclusion from the third Test against West Indies last month.
First in the domestic Duleep Trophy and now in the first Test against New Zealand, Pujara's batting has been something of a revelation.
"Obviously he's someone who absorbs pressure really well," Kohli said of Pujara whose scores of 62 and 78 came with 50-plus strike rates in both innings. "After a certain stage in the innings, there comes a time when the team needs a few runs.
"That's where we felt he has enough ability to capitalize. It was just about conveying to him."
Kohli confirmed the team management had a chat with Pujara to fine tune his game.
"We did not want him to go into a shell," Kohli said. "We want Pujara to bat to his potential. Once he starts scoring runs along with the composure he already has, it becomes very difficult for the opposition to have control on the game.
"That's all we wanted to convey to him."
Batting at what is arguably the most important position in a Test lineup, Pujara's form will be key to India's success in its bumper 13-Test home season and Kohli was glad the right hander took the advice in right spirit.
"He's someone who really understands what the team wants and has worked really hard on his game," Kohli said. "We as a team and I as the captain really appreciate that he's worked hard and hasn't told us that 'this is my comfort zone, I'm not going to get out of it'." — Reuters
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Gautam Gambhir
