Second Wall saves second Test

It’s a less-advertised fact that Gambhir last year had become the youngest active Indian cricketer with a Test double century when he had scored 206 in his home ground in Delhi against Australia. It was a series in which a couple of seniors had retired,and the skeptics had expressed doubts about whether the double-hundred dasher with a strike rate of 50-plus had it in him to get glued to the crease when the need arose.

But after the Napier knock,it can be said that Gambhir is desperately in need of a more serious alias — the rather juvenile nickname ‘Gauti’ doesn’t fit this man of substance any longer. And trust his long-time team mate and the stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag to come up with one. “I think we can call him the Second Wall of the Indian cricket team. This one comes from north,” Sehwag said,as he labelled Gambhir’s match-saving 137 as an innings of a lifetime.

Priceless 35

When Gambhir walked into the ground on Monday,he had already been heaped with praise for his 209-ball unbeaten 102. But had he not played 146 more deliveries — during which time the Indian dressing room missed a beat when Sachin Tendulkar fell early — to wipe out the deficit and put his team on the path of safety,the ‘Second Wall’ praise wouldn’t have come his way. If his 102 runs yesterday were valuable,his 35 today were priceless.

There was just one blemish in the innings when Gambhir was dropped by Ian O’Brien at mid-on off the bowling of Daniel Vettori. The disgust on the face of the New Zealand captain was evident as his team failed to pounce on the rare opportunity given by the opener. That missed chance proved to be the vital blow to the morale of a team that hadn’t given up hope all through India’s fightback.

Finally,when Gambhir was out lbw to Jeetan Patel,VVS Laxman was into his stride and the baton had been smoothly passed. Later,Laxman and Yuvraj Singh sprinted on the home stretch and it was impossible for New Zealand to catch up. Gambhir had brought back the smiles on the faces of his team mates. What seemed like a major crisis that could have turned the series upside down can now be dismissed as a mere hiccup.