India vs New Zealand | Gautam Gambhir returns to Test squad after 2 years
Opener Gautam Gambhir has been recalled into the Test squad after a gap of two years as replacement for injured KL Rahul in the ongoing New Zealand series. The 34-year-old Gambhir was evidently picked on the basis of the form he showed in the recent Duleep Trophy where he scored four half-centuries.
Rahul suffered a hamstring injury during the opening Test in Kanpur last week that has ruled him out of the remainder of the three-match Test series, according to a press release from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
“BCCI medical team has confirmed that team India opener, KL Rahul has an injury in his right hamstring and he is ruled out for the remainder of the Paytm Test series against New Zealand. The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Gautam Gambhir as Rahul's replacement for the next two Test matches,” the BCCI release said.
Left-handed Gambhir last played in a Test match against England at the Kennington Oval in August 2014, but the veteran of 56 Test matches was in great form for India Blue in the Duleep Trophy, as he amassed a total of 356 runs in three matches and also outscored two of the current Indian openers, Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay, in the final, leading India Blue to the trophy.
"Gambhir is definitely under consideration because he has been doing extremely well, and even the team management feels that with 12-13 Test matches coming up there needs to be some experience [at the top]," a BCCI official had previously told Espncricinfo.
Meanwhile, uncapped Haryana off-spinner Jayant Yadav has been drafted into the squad for the second Test beginning at the Eden Gardens on Friday as replacement for fast bowler Ishant Sharma, who is yet to recover fully from a bout of Chikungunya.
“Medium pacer Ishant Sharma is recovering and won't be available for the second Test of the series to played in Kolkata. BCCI medical Team will continue to monitor his progress. Off spinner Jayant Yadav will replace Ishant for the second Test,” the BCCI release further stated.
The 26-year-old Yadav, who is also a handy lower-order batsman, was Haryana's leading wicket-taker (33) in the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy season.