Gautam Gambhir reveals his favourite Indian Test batsman

Indian batsman and Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir is often known for his honest views on numerous subjects. He recently spoke to Cricinfo and lauded India’s mainstay Cheteshwar Pujara‘s rise in Test cricket. Gambhir expressed his opinion saying that playing one format has helped Cheteshwar Pujara rise as India’s best batter in Test cricket, and had he been vying a spot for ODIs and T20Is, things could have been more difficult for the Test specialist.

Gambhir, who was the leading scorer in both of India’s 2007 and 2011 World Cup final wins, went on to say that Pujara is more consistent than the current Indian skipper Virat Kohli. He also said that Pujara’s county stint helped him in his overall development.

“One thing which is really important to note is that he is playing only one form of the game. He can actually keep his mind pretty stable while playing and preparing only for five-day cricket. Had he been playing One-Dayers and T20Is as well, it would have been much more difficult for him, because sometimes you have to change your mindset. When you’re not scoring runs in One-Day cricket, you go into a Test series not with the same confidence. But when you’re playing just one format, it is easier to be consistent than someone who is playing all three formats.

Unsung hero

The 35-year old also said that Pujara deserves more accolades for his consistent showing. And added that the country is obsessed with white-ball cricket. “That’s the unfortunate thing. We don’t give too much importance to Test cricket, and that is the reason. It is all about white-ball cricket and what people do in ODIs and T20s. But yes, when it comes to red-ball cricket, he (Pujara) is right at the top. Maybe far more consistent than Kohli or Dhawan,” the southpaw added. Gambhir has played 58 Test matches, 147 ODIs and 37 T20Is. He was last seen in Indian colours against England during the Test series in 2016.