Viru, Gambhir may play individually but not as pair: Gavaskar

Gavaskar remarked that senior players Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir can still make individual comebacks in time for the South Africa tour. File photo: S. Subramanium

Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir might not pair up as opening partners for the country again but the two senior players can still make individual comebacks, feels Sunil Gavaskar.

Gavaskar said that he would not believe that Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay’s strong performances at the opening slots in the Mohali Test has entirely shut the door on Sehwag and Gambhir.

“Their partnership might have been over but not their international careers. I think Sehwag and Gautam can still make it to the squad for South Africa tour,” Gavaskar told NDTV today.

“I don’t think Dhawan and Vijay’s show in Mohali has shut door on Sehwag and Gambhir. I can’t say what the selectors will do but in South Africa (later this year) there would be room for four openers going there,” Gavaskar said.

“You would need three openers and the fourth player can bat at number three. So I don’t think that door has been shut on Sehwag and Gambhir.”

Gavaskar said that India are favourites to win the third Test in Mohali as Ravichandran Ashwin can come up trumps tomorrow on a fifth day track.

“Ashwin did not do well in the first innings and he is due a big haul in second innings tomorrow. The match is yet to be over and Indian can still win,” he said.

Asked if India should have declared their innings earlier so that they would have got more overs to bowl on Australians who were reduced to 75 for three in their second innings on day four today.

“Whatever has happened has happened and many a times things turned out to be better later on after taking a certain decision. So let’s hope for best,” he said.

Gavaskar said the team was doing really well considering that it was on transition after the retirements of some of the stalwarts.

“It would be great if India has a genuine all-rounder coming to bat at number seven or eight. Ravindra Jadeja is bowling well but lacking in batting. Even if he starts contributing 40s or 50s with the bat it would be great.

“But a team is never complete, there would be some weak points. But I would say that the team is looking good and moving ahead out of transition well. We have to wait and be patient.”