Virat Kohli confirms Gautam Gambhir’s participation in third Test

Indian skipper Virat Kohli has confirmed that 34-year old Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir will take part in the third and final Test match at Indore. Gambhir’s initial inclusion in the side came following a hamstring injury to KL Rahul. However, a follow-up injury to Rahul’s replacement Shikhar Dhawan meant that Gambhir would have to pad up and make his way into the side for the third and final Test.

Shikhar Dhawan suffered a minor fracture to his finger when he was struck on the glove in the early minutes of the second Test match at Kolkata by a few rising deliveries from Trent Boult. Gambhir was roped in as a substitute fielder in place of the injured Dhawan. Karun Nair has also been roped in as a standby in case something adverse was to happen.

The Indians have now moved to the top of the Test rankings following some impressive performances in the last few series. Virat Kohli, the Indian skipper for slightly over a year is also well and truly on his way to becoming India’s most successful skipper in recent times. Kohli went ahead and described the change as a like for like change with Shikhar Dhawan restricted to the sidelines.

A tweet reporting the news read: “Virat Kohli in PC confirms that Gautam Gambhir is playing 3rd Test. “Like for like change as opener.” #IndvNZ”

Virat Kohli in PC confirms that Gautam Gambhir is playing 3rd Test. "Like for like change as opener." #IndvNZ

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) October 7, 2016

During the course of his 12-year Test career, the left-hander has played 56 matches, amassing 4046 runs at an average of 42.58 with a best of 206 that came against Australia in Delhi in 2008.Wit this being somewhat of a third chance for Gambhir in the Indian side, it will be interesting to see what he can bring to the table this time around.

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