Nagpur, Nov 21:After being named captain for the first two ODIs against New Zealand, Gautam Gambhir on Sunday said that the experience of captaining Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League will certainly help him adjust to the role of Team India skipper.
Gambhir, who missed out on a possible century, said that as an opening batsman he believes that whenever one gets his eye in he has to go for a big score but unfortunately he couldn’t do that on Day 2 of the Nagpur Test.
Excerpts:
On the track:
I think it is a slow wicket and the way it was turning on the first day I think it didn’t deteriorate. If we have 300 runs lead on this wicket, then we have a very good chance with two quality spinners in our side. So, we feel if we can have 300 runs lead, then we can put a lot of pressure on them.
On going through a rough patch:
Well first thing- to be very honest I didn’t play any cricket at one go. I was always like after Asia Cup I played one Test match and got injured and then I played another Test match and got injured. I don’t think I had too much of match practice and runs. So both the things were happening simultaneously. I always thought of spending some time in the middle and taking it forward from there. Playing continuously would have helped. So, I always thought if I can play three or four Test matches in a row, it would have helped and that is what has happened.
On Sehwag’s impact on the match:
Obviously, he is an impact player. The way he sets the game. The way he sets the run-rate and he plays in the same way in all the three formats of the game. I don’t think that there are many players in the world who can bat the same way in all the three forms of the game. And he is someone special. The way he bats in all the forms I don’t see anyone can match him. He sets the game and he really attacks the opposition from the word go which is something I haven’t seen in Test cricket as normally you take your time to settle in and then go for your shots. He has that impact on the opposition.
On being named captain for first two ODIs against New Zealand:
I am really excited. I think it is a dream for any cricketer to lead the country and whatever opportunity I will get of leading the team and I am really excited about that. Hopefully, I can do well - personally and as a captain. And hopefully we can win the series. Pretty excited and it is a kind of dream come true.
On the persistent knee injury and fielding at forward short-leg:
Honestly speaking if you see, there is no one who can field at that position in the present combination of the team. Till you get anyone I have to be there. At one point it used to bother me a lot. One time it was a pretty serious injury and standing in the forward short-leg for one-and-a-half days and with two spinners in a row hardly gives you time for your body to recover. It is a bit of concern but at the same time the combination of the team is such that no one is there and that is the responsibility you need to take for the team. Till the time you don’t get anyone I still have to be there.
On whether he would still stand at forward short-leg if he is the captain:
Yes, I will.
On missing out on a hundred:
Yeah, very disappointing because as opening batsmen we both have felt that once you get settled you have to get as many runs as possible. The new ball is definitely a challenge and we both keep discussing that if we get set then we have to make as many runs as possible. I think I am very disappointed that none of us could go on and make a hundred. I think it is very disappointing and as an opening batsman that is a great challenge and an opportunity as well. Once you get set you can make a lot of runs. Hopefully, we can get the hundred in South Africa.
On batting with Sehwag when not in form:
When you are not among runs it is always difficult to bat with anyone. First of all you need to score runs to be confident. It is about you scoring the runs. It is a great help he kept me giving a lot of confidence in Hyderabad and I always wanted it. The kind of confidence he gave me throughout my innings and in every over was tremendous and I should be thankful to him for the way he gave me confidence in Hyderabad. As I said it is important for you to score runs and it does not matter how the other person is batting.
On the possibility of Sachin Tendulkar getting to his 50th century tomorrow:
Absolutely, I think it is going to be the biggest achievement for any cricketer. Hopefully, he can go on and score the 50th Test century tomorrow.
On different ways of getting back into form:
Exactly, we both are different kind of players and we both think differently and his way of coming out of a bad patch is different from mine. I might like to spend more balls in the middle and start getting the confidence going, but he is someone who wants to attack whether he is scoring runs or not and that is his way of playing cricket. It is very different and it is different with every cricketer. You can’t have a set pattern to get back into form. Everyone thinks differently and everyone feels differently. Some people can spend time in the middle even if they don’t score runs and it can give them a lot of confidence and then there are people who like scoring runs to get back the confidence. So, may be Sehwag is different and I am different.
On getting out a few times in the very first over:
I think first of all I still remember that I had three ducks in the second innings in this year. As an international cricketer it keeps getting into your mind. I kept telling myself that it is not about one over, it is about each and every ball rather than thinking that I have to get this one over out of my way because if I keep thinking that way it is always going to be tough. I think it is about facing each and every ball, concentrating on each and every ball and taking one ball at a time. It was there at the back of my mind but I consciously kept telling myself that it is about each and every ball.
On the captaincy:
First of all be relaxed and the experience of captaining Delhi Daredevils and Delhi Ranji team is always of a great help - as I have seen the ups and downs as a captain and I have handled them. Even in the last IPL, I have seen the ups and the downs. But everyone has different ways and I personally feel it is the instincts and what you can make in the middle. You can’t think beforehand that this is what I am going to do – it all depends on the situation. What you think is the right move, you should back yourself.
