After a hiatus of two long years, Gautam Gambhir’s comeback to the Indian dressing room lasted all of 35 runs.
Recalled after India’s 2014 England tour, the 34-year-old was called back to the Indian squad in place of KL Rahul but didn’t make it to the playing eleven since Virat Kohli chose to go with Shikhar Dhawan. However, after Dhawan injured his thumb, the seasoned opening batsman was called in for India’s third Test match against New Zealand in Indore.
In his time away, the cricketer trained hard and performed reasonably well in the Indian Premier League, Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy but was somehow overlooked during the India team selection. Opening the second innings of the third Test on Monday, Gambhir was forced to go back to the dressing room following an injured shoulder.
Here are eight photos from Gambhir’s return to international cricket.
Back at the Eden: Gautam Gambhir Attended His First India Practise Session in Two Years After Being Recalled in Place of KL Rahul.
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The skipper kept it till game-day to decide his choice of replacement though. Would it be Shikhar or Gautam as the second opener?
With the younger of the Delhi openers getting the nod, Gambhir still made it to the green... as a replacement fielder.
Come Indore Shikhar Dhawan too was ruled out with a thumb injury. Captain and coach declared Gambhir as the replacement on the eve of the match itself.
Gambhir made his comeback at the age of 34.
Despite losing opening partner Murali Vijay for just 10, Gambhir looked unfrazzled – hitting back-to-back maximums off Matt Henry in the fourth over.
He lasted till the 20th over, falling to Trent Boult for a 53-ball-29.
After watching Virat score a double ton, Gambhir fielded with the team as they got the Kiwis all out for 299.
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...But as luck would have it, in the second innings Gambhir injured his already strained right shoulder while diving for a run.
He retired hurt on 6.
With Gambhir not being selected for the ODI series, this may just be the last time we get to see the KKR skipper turn out for India.
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