Prolific Gambhir shows the way

Gautam Gambhir’s splendid form is helping the young cricketer scale new heights, while Bangladesh have certainly proved they are not to be taken lightly.

Bangladesh weren’t ordinary as Sehwag thought they were but they weren’t good enough. But make no mistake, they had India hopping for a while and they must go into the next Test aware of what they can do. This was just the kind of cricket Bangladesh need to play and they will now have to show that they are good learners, unlike what we have seen at various stages in their evolution. This looks like a good, settled line-up; it could still do with some more solid players in the top order, but they have now got a lot right.

Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir continues an astonishing run. Part of the evolution of a player is to cash in when the going is good, put a price on his wicket. We saw that during the double hundred against Australia and that fantastic innings against New Zealand at Napier; one that was in contrast to what we thought we knew of him. He had suggested till then that he was a dasher, we now know that he is a very intelligent young man.

He is the kind of cricketer India needs; someone who can play in any form. I often look at Gambhir and wonder which form of the game he is best at. And I do not know the answer. South Africa in December will be a test but he doesn’t need to lose sleep over it. There are lots of fine young players around him and they can look up to him rather than to a relatively insurmountable Tendulkar or Dravid.

India’s other big plus was the return of Ishant Sharma to wicket taking ways. Now here is another very gifted young man who, like Gambhir, plays in all three forms. But, unlike with Gambhir, you can tell which version he is best at. He seems confused when playing T20 and needs to be better at the death in 50 overs cricket. Test cricket gives him the freedom he needs.