why gambir is in the team

Anchor:

Sachin Tendulkar is set to return to the international fold with the one-day series against Sri Lanka but there is a tag of caution too. TIMES NOW has learnt that inclusion of Test opener Gautam Gambhir is a done as a backup for Tendulkar who is coming back from a tennis elbow injury.

STD/EDVI:

Gautam Gambhir was the dark horse when the senior selection committee met this morning. Gambhir’s name was recommended to the selectors by coach Greg Chappell after seeing him play in the recently concluded Irani Trophy against Railways in Delhi. Though Gambhir scored 47 and 5 in that match, there was something that Chappell picked which made him put up his case in the meeting. The selectors decided to have him as a backup to Tendulkar. Surprisingly, the selector from North Zone was in favour of VVS Laxman and not Gambhir but Chappell prevailed as he said that Gambhir was at the top of his game and should be brought in. Laxman’s case was also weakened by his wobbly knee as Chappell told the selectors that to beat Sri Lanka the Indians have to be really hot in the fielding department. Otherwise Laxman’s case was quite strong with skipper Rahul Dravid also backing him. There was a big debate on whether to retain Uttar Pradesh left-armer RP Singh. Bar two selectors the rest of the committee wanted to play Punjab fast bowler VRV Singh. The selectors from North and Central zones reasoned that RP Singh fared well in Zimbabwe and should be retained. Zaheer Khan’s case was also discussed but he didn’t have many takers in the committee. S Sreesanth got the nod based on his attitude and performance in the pre-season conditioning camp in Bangalore. His good show in the Challenger series worked as icing on the cake. Also what went in Sreesanth’s favour was the fact that the first two matches of the series will be played on the two more bowler-friendly wickets in the country, Vidharbha and Mohali……DINESH CHOPRA TIMES NOW, MOHALI