Onus is entirely on Yuvraj
Gambhir, who suffered a blow on his left elbow while fielding at short leg in the first Test, hasn’t yet fully recovered from the impact injury, thus paving the way for his fellow left-hander to make a comeback.
Since his debut in 2003 against New Zealand at Mohali, Yuvraj has played only 34 Tests with 2,782 runs at an average less than 36.
As impressive as his career has been in the shorter format, Yuvraj’s record in Tests has been equally disappointing. The Punjab batsman has produced some breathtaking knocks here and there, but somehow he has not been able to take his game in the traditional format to the next level. Untimely injuries too have had a great role to play in his chequered Test career.
Yuvarj last featured in a Test against Sri Lanka and did his cause no harm with a stroke-filled half-century in the first innings as India were forced to follow-on in Galle in 2010.
The left-hander was indisposed for the second Test and his replacement Suresh Raina shut door on Yuvraj with a century on debut. Upon return home, he was overlooked for the series against Australia as Cheteshwar Pujara earned his berth in the squad.
Before the Galle appearance, the 29-year-old had suffered a ligament tear during the second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka, forcing him out of subsequent series against South Africa at home. Plagued by injuries and fitness issues, Yuvraj fell out of the selectors’ radar and it was only during the World Cup that the southpaw was able to turn things around once again. His stellar all-round performance in the quadrennial event played a crucial role in India’s triumph and was rewarded with a slot in the Test squad on tour of the West Indies.
But as luck would have it, he had to pull out of the series due to a lung infection. His latest break might have come under unfortunate circumstances for India, but Yuvraj will feel that having been at the receiving end of misfortune on a few occasions, it’s no more than the break he deserves. It’s a golden chance for him to seal his place in the side, and as skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said on Thursday, a chance to become a hero.