Gambhir reading up Bhagat Singh's exploits, while Sachin banking on his pearls of wisdom to conquer Australia
Gambhir reading up Bhagat Singh's exploits, while Sachin banking on his pearls of wisdom to conquer Australia
Guess who is proving to be an inspiration for India opening batsman Gautam Gambhir. It is freedom fighter Shahid Bhagat Singh.
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| Dilli ke dilwale: Virender Sehwag jokingly pats Gautam Gambhir with his bat after their training session in Chandigarh yesterday. Below: Sachin Tendulkar. Pic/AFP |
When he's not at the nets, Gambhir cannot put down a book on the martyr. "He is my idol. When you read these kinds of books, you get more energy and power. I just love Bhagat Singh," said Gambhir.
The left-hander was the star of the 2008-09 home series against the Australians. In three Tests, he scored nearly 500 runs aided with three-figure scores of 104 (Mohali) and 206 (in Delhi). He couldn't play in the fourth and final Test at Nagpur because he was banned for a match by match referee Chris Broad for getting physical with Aussie all-rounder Shane Watson in the Delhi Test. "We fought hard in the last series and this series will be no different. Hopefully, I will serve my team in a positive way," said Gambhir.
If anyone still has doubts over the excitement level the two-Test India vs Australia series will cause, hear it from Sachin Tendulkar. "It's one of the best series ever ufffd always challenging," he had said even before he landed in Mohali for Friday's opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Tendulkar was at the Punjab Cricket Association nets yesterday armed with five new bats ufffd ready to show the Aussies that India deserve that World No 1 Test team tag. The Mumbai man will be playing his fifth home series against the Aussies. India triumphed in all four previous rubbers save the 2004-05 one.
Tendulkar shrugs off the suggestion of him being more focussed when it comes to taking on Australia. "I treat all teams in the same manner. The series will be challenging. Everybody is charged up for this series," he said
Ever-increasing expectations don't tie him down. "I am not under pressure. Ups and downs will always be there.
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It's like a circle. I am now used to expectations and pressure. I enjoy it. When you play for such a long period, you feel pressure but you enjoy that too," he said.
