Gambhir: Domestic runs will get my Test spot back

Veteran India batsman Gautam Gambhir will face a tough challenge to get back into the Test team again, after squandering his second chance, but feels runs in domestic contests could get him back on track.

Gambhir was out of the side for two years, dropped for poor form, but was recalled in the recent series against England and given two Tests. He failed in all four knocks, with a top score of 18, which prompted much criticism.

The 33-year-old then went on to play in the Champions League T20 for Kolkata, scoring two half tons as his side reached the final, but his other knocks were poor. He is confident he can take those glimmers of hope and build on them, though.

Gambhir told Cricinfo: “Obviously when you don’t do well there will always be critics taking a shot at you and that’s fine. You play a game and when you do well you get praise, so you should be able to take the criticism as well.

“For me it was always a confidence thing. Maybe making a comeback is never easy, if I had been able to get a few starts, obviously I would have been a lot more confident. For me, if I am confident mentally a lot of things can be taken care of.

“The important thing is to keep scoring runs. We have a big domestic season coming up. If the runs come, the technical things people keep talking about can be taken care of. Stay in the present, keep scoring runs and see where it goes.”

Gambhir added that his poor T20 form in the Champions League T20 should not be held against him in the longer format, as the situation heavily favours team strategy, and is not an accurate reflection of a batsman’s form.

He said: “People say it’s a batsman’s format, but at the same time the bowler has a lot of opportunities to take your wicket. When you are taking a risk there is always a chance you will lose your wicket because you are only playing 120 balls.

“Sometimes team strategy is to go hard in the first six overs and you have to do that even when you are not hitting the ball well. It is always a challenge.”