Gautam Gambhir Says he Will be Aggressive Against Virat Kohli if Need be

[Austin 3:!6]

Veteran batsman Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday finally opened up on his much-talked about relationship with Virat Kohli.

Speaking to NDTV, the Delhi left-hander, who leads Kolkata Knight Riders, stated that there was nothing personal in his 2013 Indian Premier League verbal duel with Royal Challengers Bangalore's Kohli and he was would not hold himself back when it comes to taking on India's Test skipper in the future.

"There was nothing personal in the IPL fight with Virat. If I play against Virat again and need to be aggressive, I will," said Gambhir.

The 35-year-old Gambhir highlighted the fact that Kohli and he were not just aggressive but also extremely passionate individuals.

According to Gambhir, there was nothing wrong in having a go at each other on the field as cricket was serious business.

"Virat and I are both aggressive and passionate individuals. When on the same team, Virat and I have the same goals," Gambhir added.

Gambhir was recalled to India's Test side against New Zealand after a gap of two years.

After being ignored by the selectors during the initial squad announcement, injuries to KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan paved the way for Gambhir's selection in the playing eleven at Indore.

Gambhir didn't disappoint his fans, as he notched up a fifty in the second innings.

Gautam Gambhir praises Test captain Virat Kohli

After having played under Kohli's captaincy in whites for the first time, Gambhir lauded the 27-year-old's leadership.

"Virat leads the team by example," he said.

All eyes were on the Delhi duo after Gambhir was recalled to the squad in Kolkata. However, they appeared quite comfortable with each other and even shared a laugh on multiple occasions.

It remains to be seen whether Gambhir will find favour with the team management during England's visit as both Rahul and Dhawan are expected to make a return.

Either way, Gambhir deserves credit for not just wearing his heart on his sleeve but also continuing to fight hard for a Test slot.

http://sports.ndtv.com/news/gautam-gambhir-says-he-will-be-aggressive-against-virat-kohli-if-need-be-cricket-1475907

[Lannister]

I think we missed the trick by not giving him captaincy following Kumble's tenure. After Yuvraj, he was our second most impactful player in the team that won World cup. I am sure he would've showed more guts when captaining Test team abroad. 

[Trichromatic]

37 minutes ago, Lannister said:

I think we missed the trick by not giving him captaincy following Kumble's tenure. After Yuvraj, he was our second most impactful player in the team that won World cup. I am sure he would've showed more guts when captaining Test team abroad. 

In next two and half years after Kumble's captaincy we won series in NZ, Bangladesh, SL, WI and drew a series in SA.

[gakgupta]

1 hour ago, Lannister said:

I think we missed the trick by not giving him captaincy following Kumble's tenure. After Yuvraj, he was our second most impactful player in the team that won World cup. I am sure he would've showed more guts when captaining Test team abroad. 

He is more in the ganguly mode....

Also, i get the feeling that he has eye for talent

[Sandeep99]

He would have definitely made a good test skipper.. #justsaying

[Lannister]

2 hours ago, Trichromatic said:

In next two and half years after Kumble's captaincy we won series in NZ, Bangladesh, SL, WI and drew a series in SA.

You should look up Gambhir's contribution in those series. He averaged 89 in NZ, which was highest by an Indian batsman and 60.5 in SA which was second highest after Sachin's 81.5. He was clearly our best batsman at that time and deserved to lead the team than some w8ss. 

[Sooda]

He and Kohli formed an excellent combo in the Indian top order at 3 and 4, Im sure they get on alright

[SLICKR392]

6 hours ago, Lannister said:

I think we missed the trick by not giving him captaincy following Kumble's tenure. After Yuvraj, he was our second most impactful player in the team that won World cup. I am sure he would've showed more guts when captaining Test team abroad. 

Biggest blunder indeed. Was in a fiery touch following that Player of the Year, and ICC Test player of the year. 

[rkt.india]

57 minutes ago, SLICKR392 said:

Biggest blunder indeed. Was in a fiery touch following that Player of the Year, and ICC Test player of the year. 

Gambhir was not established in the team at that time in 2007, so, how could he become the captain. Dhoni was established and became the captain of our T20 team from 2007 onward and then ODIs and when Kumble hung his boots, Dhoni was the natural successor as test captain too. 

[Ankit_sharma03]

 

7 hours ago, Lannister said:

I think we missed the trick by not giving him captaincy following Kumble's tenure. After Yuvraj, he was our second most impactful player in the team that won World cup. I am sure he would've showed more guts when captaining Test team abroad. 

Even Irfan pathan and Rp singh contribution was massive , acc to me more than our batsman . 

Dont forget bowler's impact.

Edited October 19, 2016 by Ankit_sharma03

[Lord]

3 hours ago, Lannister said:

You should look up Gambhir's contribution in those series. He averaged 89 in NZ, which was highest by an Indian batsman and 60.5 in SA which was second highest after Sachin's 81.5. He was clearly our best batsman at that time and deserved to lead the team than some w8ss. 

Gambhir was not even sure of his place when Kumble retired.Sehwag was the only other option

 

As for performances,check his performances in those whitewashes too

 

Dravid was the main reason we did so well under Ganguly.Doesnt mean he was better captain than Ganguly

1 hour ago, SLICKR392 said:

Biggest blunder indeed. Was in a fiery touch following that Player of the Year, and ICC Test player of the year. 

All under Dhoni that

[Ankit_sharma03]

7 hours ago, Lannister said:

I think we missed the trick by not giving him captaincy following Kumble's tenure. After Yuvraj, he was our second most impactful player in the team that won World cup. I am sure he would've showed more guts when captaining Test team abroad. 

Also No captain during that tenure would have changed the result, Strategies could have been different but when ur aged batsman cannot put 300+ score on board consistently, nothing can be done. Sehwag also lead in one test in Adelaide and the story was same.

Those aging batsman were also liabilities on field, nothing gr8 would have changed

 

A captain is as gud as team. We may have had a lil worse losses but a loss is a loss at the end of the day. 

[Trichromatic]

6 hours ago, Lannister said:

You should look up Gambhir's contribution in those series. He averaged 89 in NZ, which was highest by an Indian batsman and 60.5 in SA which was second highest after Sachin's 81.5. He was clearly our best batsman at that time and deserved to lead the team than some w8ss. 

Sachin was our best batsman at that by some distance. That hardly means he deserved to be the lead the team and as RKT said he wasn't sure of his place either. His performance improved under Dhoni.

 

 

2 hours ago, Ankit_sharma03 said:

Also No captain during that tenure would have changed the result, Strategies could have been different but when ur aged batsman cannot put 300+ score on board consistently, nothing can be done. Sehwag also lead in one test in Adelaide and the story was same.

Those aging batsman were also liabilities on field, nothing gr8 would have changed

 

A captain is as gud as team. We may have had a lil worse losses but a loss is a loss at the end of the day. 

I don't think so. There are always consistent small contribution from captains which help team to improve their result. Under a better captain I would have expected the result to be at least 4-0 or so instead of 8-0.

[maniac]

2 minutes ago, Trichromatic said:

Sachin was our best batsman at that by some distance. That hardly means he deserved to be the lead the team and as RKT said he wasn't sure of his place either. His performance improved under Dhoni.

 

 

That is a wrong way of putting it...his rise and purple patch coincided with Dhonis' early captaincy tenure.

[Lannister]

2 hours ago, Lord said:

Gambhir was not even sure of his place when Kumble retired.Sehwag was the only other option

 

As for performances,check his performances in those whitewashes too

 

Dravid was the main reason we did so well under Ganguly.Doesnt mean he was better captain than Ganguly

All under Dhoni that

By the end of 2006, Gambhir averaged 36 and Dhoni 30. Our management made a blunder by giving Test captaincy to limited over specialist on the basis of T20 international success. I am not disputing Dhoni's place in Test team as he was clearly our best WK at that time, but making him captain even after knowing there were better Test players available? 

[cric_fan]

This guy runs his mouth too much. Somebody put a sock in it.

[Ankit_sharma03]

1 hour ago, Trichromatic said:

I don't think so. There are always consistent small contribution from captains which help team to improve their result. Under a better captain I would have expected the result to be at least 4-0 or so instead of 8-0.

In case of Gambhir , his test avgs

2010- 32.75

2011 - 31.33

2012- 31.60

2013-  6.25

 

I dont know, he would have helped team when he himself was struggling. Cook, Clarke, smith even they couldnt avoid those trashing. Even Last year Amla how much could he help his team and now williamson. So if batsman arent putting runs on board no way under no captain we would have not won. Under Dhoni only when batsman scored in Sa n Nz We test there. 

 

Yes captain can lift a team but some extent but in those series every thing just went wrong. 

[sandeep]

1 hour ago, Lannister said:

By the end of 2006, Gambhir averaged 36 and Dhoni 30. Our management made a blunder by giving Test captaincy to limited over specialist on the basis of T20 international success. I am not disputing Dhoni's place in Test team as he was clearly our best WK at that time, but making him captain even after knowing there were better Test players available? 

Even though I agree that Dhoni's test captaincy has been pretty mediocre, you can't blame the selectors for making him Captain across all formats.  He had the Midas touch in LOI cricket at the time, and was a sure pick as 'keeper in the test side.  It only helps the team's stability if we have the same leadership across formats.  I agree Gambhir had great leadership potential - he's always been the hyper-competitive, mongrel, no-nonsense, take no prisoners type guy who would lead a team well.  And he has shown that in IPL.  But to say that the selectors made an obvious mistake back then, is based on hind-sight.  

[rkt.india]

1 hour ago, Lannister said:

By the end of 2006, Gambhir averaged 36 and Dhoni 30. Our management made a blunder by giving Test captaincy to limited over specialist on the basis of T20 international success. I am not disputing Dhoni's place in Test team as he was clearly our best WK at that time, but making him captain even after knowing there were better Test players available? 

You need to have a regular spot in the XI to be captain. GG didn't have that. He only became regular from 2008.

[maniac]

I do agree that Dhoni was the right man to do the job when he became captain...with seniors way past taking the responsibility and younger talent like Gambhir,Yuvraj,Pathan not establishing themselves fully...In Hindsight-Zak would have been a good choice but in 2007 he was just on his comeback trial and so was Sehwag...so ideally Dhoni was at the  right place at the right time...nothing wrong in that.

 

However there was no threat to Dhoni's captaincy from 2011 onwards and having accomplished everything at that point,Test No 1,WT20,WC..there was neither any hunger in him or any competition for his captaincy slot...Here is where things went wrong.....Gambhir should have been made captain in 2011