Kolkata: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly wants to see Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir making a comeback into the Indian ODI squad for the forthcoming Champions Trophy. Gambhir has been in ominous form with the bat right from the start of the IPL 2017, amassing over 400 runs from 11 matches so far. The left hander has already scored 4 fifties and is right now second in the list of run scorers. David Warner of Sunrisers Hyderabad presently holds the Orange cap with 489 runs.
According to Sourav, “The form which he is at the moment, it won’t be a bad idea either to include him (Gambhir) in the Champions Trophy squad. Since KL Rahul is injured , the selectors can think about giving Gambhir an opportunity.”
Few days back Ravi Shastri has also written in his column to include Gambhir in the Champions Trophy squad. In his column for TOI, Shastri wrote, “Gautam Gambhir has so far been the most consistent Indian opener in this IPL. His batting is still smooth and layered and whenever his bat makes a contact with the ball, there is a run. It’s another matter he could’ve just played as captain and still be worth his weight in gold. Indeed, he has been superb as a leader of his men.”
But the only dilemma selectors might face is that the Delhi opener last played an ODI for India way back in January 2013 against England. He managed to score only 24 runs off 42 balls before getting caught by Ian Bell off the bowling of Tredwell. The former India opener has been in tremendous form in the IPL 10 so far, and a couple of good scores from him might seriously keep the selectors thinking.
Meanwhile the Knight Riders captain failed to live up to the expectation as he was out for only 24 runs against the Rising Pune Supergiant at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday.