Gautam Gambhir seems to be a shadow of his previous self..

[The Realist]

I think we are playing with 3 batsmen only Pujara' date=' Kohli, and Ashwin. Others are just walking wickets.[/quote'] Agree the likes of Gambhir, Tendulkar and Dhoni are just passengers. Yuvraj will never really be a consistent test player no matter how many chances he gets.

[shortbread]

Gambhir is a friggin liability!!!! Kick him out!!!

[Number]

ridiculously out of touch. can't score anywhere.

[rahulrulezz]

I have immense faith in this guy and he will come back good.. He is a must for me in all formats

[The Realist]

I have immense faith in this guy and he will come back good.. He is a must for me in all formats

Eh? He's been failing for TWO YEARS in tests, can't even remember his last big score yet he must play? It's this kind of mentality which is holding the team. Either perform or be dropped, mouthing of in the media just shows he has lost the plot. "Gambhir has not reached three figures in a Test since January 2010, a run of 23 matches in which he has averaged a less-than-impressive 28."

[jonas10]

Problem with him has always been he has 1 good match 15 bad ones.

[Trichromatic]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13gwp3nXc18]Gautam Gambhir's dismissal 2nd test Mumbai 2012 - YouTube[/ame]

[saneindian]

With each failure, the 18 month long period in 2008-09 now seems more of an aberration for Gambhir. But for those 12-13 tests in that period, he has been a terrible test player. Not sure if there's any way out now other than to ask him to go back to Domestic cricket and sort out the technical issues with his batting.

[cowboysfan]

I remember people jumping on me when i suggested he should be dropped from all formats to get back into form.just keeping him in LOI cricket is not helping him,his poking has got worse.

[BeautifulGame]

The squad was announced for 1st 2 tests or whole series? He needs to be dropped.Its getting ridiculous.Get Rahane in for next test and let Gambhir work out his issues in Ranji trophy

[Trundler27]

gambo is a strong man (lobby-wise) of the team... so he will absolutely not be dropped.... that's the travesty of indian cricket.... we never have the gall to drop out of form seniors.... gambhir is clearly not even enjoying being in the game so its clearly time for him to take a break but dhoni dare not do that lest the sehwag/gambo lobby start acting up again.

[King Tendulkar]

I rate gambo and was one of main people demanding him to be in team when out all those years back. But he looks horrid at the moment. Needs to be dropped and replaced by rahane. Gambhir can always fight back when shows back to form. Can even bat 6 and replace yuvraj

[Manny_Pacquiao]

I remember people jumping on me when i suggested he should be dropped from all formats to get back into form.just keeping him in LOI cricket is not helping him' date='his poking has got worse.[/quote'] he is still a stud in ODIs. averaging 45 in 2012, and he was india's best batsman in that aussie tri-series. looked fantastic in sri lanka recently as well. his test game has fallen apart, but you can't drop this guy from the odi team when he keeps scoring heavily.

[SLICKR392]

Problem with him has always been he has 1 good match 15 bad ones.

Always? Yes, he is going through a very bad patch now but when on peak he has been our most consistent run scorer in all formats. One of the best comebacks was by this guy. 9 tons with a double and that too 5 in a row.

[carnish]

Always? Yes' date=' he is going through a very bad patch now but when on peak he has been our most consistent run scorer in all formats. One of the best comebacks was by this guy. 9 tons with a double and that too 5 in a row.[/quote'] True that ... thats the only reason why he is backed even after not performing for so long.

[Spiderguy252]

Give him upto the end of the 3rd test. If he fails, bring Rahane in for the final one.

[asterix]

Gambhir, UV, Tendu, Dhoni...all batting baggages getting their collective arses saved by Pujara. These losers might be praying for Pujara to not get injured and continue saving their arses throughout the series..

[Spiderguy252]

Dhonut has been a batting baggage for his entire career. Never seen him score runs when it mattered!

[Trichromatic]

he is still a stud in ODIs. averaging 45 in 2012, and he was india's best batsman in that aussie tri-series. looked fantastic in sri lanka recently as well. his test game has fallen apart, but you can't drop this guy from the odi team when he keeps scoring heavily.

Against SL and minnows. He is average against any decent pace attack.

[Karan114]

With each failure, the 18 month long period in 2008-09 now seems more of an aberration for Gambhir. But for those 12-13 tests in that period, he has been a terrible test player. Not sure if there's any way out now other than to ask him to go back to Domestic cricket and sort out the technical issues with his batting.

You are right that it seems an aberration in a statistical sense. The rest of Gambhir's Test career before 2008 and after 2009 has been utter filth. However, the domination and consistency that he showed in that period was absolutely brilliant and couldn't have been achieved by someone mediocre. Clearly he needs to be dropped but hopefully a long stint eradicating out his flaws in FC cricket will see him return to big scoring ways. Unfortunately the alternatives like Mukund, Vijay and Dhawan have not really grasped their opportunities. Rahane merits a go in Test cricket. His FC performances in big games this year have been disappointing but previously he has been better (e.g. hundred against Aus in tour game in 2010). I know the selectors don't see him as an opener but it shouldn't be a big change for him.