30 September,2016 08:41 AM IST | | Debasish Datta
Gautam Gambhir, it seems, will have to wait a little longer for his return to Test cricket as India is most likely to bring in Shikhar Dhawan in place of injured KL Rahul and retain the rest of the squad, which played in Kanpur
Gautam Gambhir (left) and skipper Virat Kohli share a lighter moment during a training session at Eden Gardens in Kolkata yesterday. PIC/PTI
Kolkata: Gautam Gambhir, it seems, will have to wait a little longer for his return to Test cricket as India is most likely to bring in Shikhar Dhawan in place of injured KL Rahul and retain the rest of the squad, which played in Kanpur. Today's Test here against New Zealand is India's 250th at home.
Gambhir didn't bat in the nets but did some knocking on an adjoining pitch. Dhawan, who didn't play the first Test, had a good session in the nets and is all set to accompany Murali Vijay to open the India innings. With India's main spinner R Ashwin nursing an injury there were some speculation that the uncapped offie Jayant Yadav might get a look in given that the visitors have as many as six left-handers in the team. But skipper Virat Kohli ruled out any such possibility, stating that Ashwin was "absolutely fine".
There were some talk to let Cheteshwar Pujara open the innings with Vijay and bring in leggie Amit Mishra as the third spinner since the Eden Gardens wicket is expected to assist spinners as the match progresses.
But Kohli, like he did in Kanpur, is almost certain that he would rather prefer the six-batsmen cushion and stick to the same bowling side which helped India win the first Test.
The pitch too doesn't look as dry as it was in Kanpur.
It will have something for the fast bowlers too as there is some moisture but it is most likely to help the spinners from the third day. India did not put a foot wrong in Kanpur even as Kohli's bold move to go with a four-prone bowling attack surprised many.
He is most likely to do the same here, which might also help him repeat the result.
