I don't play cricket for selfish reasons, says Gautam Gambhir

[Switchblade]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/I-dont-play-cricket-for-selfish-reasons-says-Gautam-Gambhir/articleshow/28405550.cms Out-of-favour opener Gautam Gambhir is determined to fight his way back into the national team through hardwork, saying that he doesn't want to take the "selfish" route by scoring heavily on flat tracks to stage his comeback. "I have never played cricket for selfish reasons like scoring 800-900 runs on flat tracks to make a comeback. It's up to an individual and I am not one of those guys who would back out from competition. Delhi team needed outright wins and I insisted on playing on green top at the Roshanara rather than on a flat track. Had I played on a flat track, I could have got close to 900 runs. I have never ever played cricket that way with such selfish motives," Gambhir said on Saturday. The 31-year-old scored 578 runs in the Ranji Trophy this season with a top score of 153 at the Roshanara on a green top against Haryana just before the Test squad to South Africa was announced. With the team for New Zealand also announced, Gambhir has taken the decision to chin-up and is ready to fight his way back. "It's a reality that I am not in the team to New Zealand. I wish all the 16-17 guys best of luck for the tour. As I have maintained that I don't play for comebacks, I play the game because I still have that hunger to perform. I want to be part of the team that wins a Test series in England and Australia. This is what drives me on as in my 54 Tests, we only won a series in New Zealand and drew in South Africa," Gambhir said. He also didn't wish to comment on skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's take that he is the No 3 opener in the country now. "Frankly, I don't know whether I am 1, 2, 3 or last. I know that my job is to score runs and I will continue to do that. Someone asked me what exactly is a finished product, I said that no one ever is a finished product. We strive to improve everyday," Gambhir said. "I am an intense person on the field. I always want to win as it matters to me a lot. That's why I never like to lose the focus or intensity," he explained. The veteran of 54 Tests and 147 ODIs doesn't want to look too far ahead and instead concentrate on his immediate future when asked whether he feels that he would be in the scheme of things for the 2015 World Cup in Australia. "Look I don't know what's in store tomorrow and 2015 World Cup is like looking too far ahead. I would like to think about Vijay Hazare Trophy and then about IPL which also is not anytime soon. I like to take each day as it comes and focus on my performance," Gambhir further added.

[SLICKR392]

"It's a reality that I am not in the team to New Zealand. I wish all the 16-17 guys best of luck for the tour. As I have maintained that I don't play for comebacks, I play the game because I still have that hunger to perform. "Frankly, I don't know whether I am 1, 2, 3 or last. I know that my job is to score runs and I will continue to do that. Someone asked me what exactly is a finished product, I said that no one ever is a finished product. We strive to improve everyday," Gambhir said.

:hatsoff:

[Crookbond]

Gambhir's commitment was never in doubt.

[fineleg]

He needs to tighten up the pokemon to edge to keeper, slips, gully etc. Tighten up that game and score runs.

[bulbul]

Who plays like that ?

[vvvslaxman]

Who plays like that ?

Robin Uthappa :cantstop:

[special K]

Gambhir isn't a selfish cricketer. Was always very generous in giving his wicket away on green tops.

[FischerTal]

Gambhir isn't a selfish cricketer. Was always very generous in giving his wicket away on green tops.

not as generous as Cook is to give his wicket to anyone but Mitchell Johnson :giggle:

[SLICKR392]

Gambhir isn't a selfish cricketer. Was always very generous in giving his wicket away on green tops.

True unlike Cook he doesn't run like a chicken to the other end.

[gattaca]

True unlike Cook he doesn't run like a chicken to the other end.

And also made tailender face tough bowling.

[helperononline]

And also made tailender face tough bowling.

that was the reason he was dropped and people started saying he was selfish now he has come up with this statement

[gattaca]

that was the reason he was dropped and people started saying he was selfish now he has come up with this statement

Lol I was saying abt cook

[helperononline]

Lol I was saying abt cook

gambhir is no different when it comes to protecting tail but yeah unlike cook he does not piss his pants when someone bowls fast

[Vijy]

Gambhir has shown improvement. One more good Ranji season + some good 'A' tours should bring him back - I'm not a big fan of his, but I'd take him over Vijay/Dhawan anyday.

[SLICKR392]

And also made tailender face tough bowling.

He was helping the tailender for future tours. Looks how they failed in SA. :agree:

[Cricketics]

He will be back. It's a reality.

[Crookbond]

Gambhir sometimes make foolhardy statements but he's as committed a person to the team as you can get.

[Marut]

Gambhir has to pray that Dhawan will fail in NZ, else he has no chance in the mid term. There is some vacancy in the middle order (Rohit) but I am not sure whether Gambhir will ever be considered for that spot.

[adi B]

sometimes u can question gambo's attitude but never his commitment..hope he is working on his technical glitches,should comeback strongly!!

[NareshK]

Gambhir needs a season in county cricket or could play a FC season in Australia or South Africa just to make a few adjustments to his technique which he wouldn't be able to in India. Just has to tighten his off side play(playing away from the body, poking at deliveries outside off) and balls directed at his rib cage and short deliveries. He proved himself in test cricket at the start of his career, so he has lots of talent and if he works hard enough, he will be back in the side. Still lots of potential left in him.