Gutsy Gambhir takes guard on a different pitch

The India vice-captain, gearing up to battle the England pace quartet, had been struggling to pull open the turnstile in the middle of the backdrop along with the boss of a private building firm he is endorsing. Khurram Habib reports.

The backdrop of the stage shook for a while before Gautam Gambhir could emerge. The India vice-captain, gearing up to battle the England pace quartet, had been struggling to pull open the turnstile in the middle of the backdrop along with the boss of a private building firm he is endorsing.

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The faux pas let off a few giggles, but the glum-faced Gauti settled in his chair, stone-faced and expressionless. It seemed that the opener, known for his vast reserves of mental strength, was finding his role as a display item too boring. He looked slightly out of place selling properties and penthouses of Rudra Buildwell in Noida Extension, a place that has seen agitations and acrimonious debates over the rights of farmers over their lands.

Even as the company's boss shrugged off concerns about the trouble saying the property was safe, Gambhir did not twitch a bit while the question was being asked.

Perhaps, he had rehearsed the role well as he rattled off a quick speech exhorting his friendship with the builders and calling them his family.

"Good ol' man of the match speech tweaked a bit," laughed a cub reporter. The gutsy Gambhir, however, emerged soon after when questions relating to his profession came up. He criticised the ICC's ban on runners, played down the hype created by the English media and players about how India may struggle there and, defended teammates, old and new.

Runners
You can deny him (batsman) a runner for cramps, but if a he gets seriously injured during a match, what will he do? He can't keep batting without a runner.

Taking on England
There is always talk about all this before every tour. The important thing is to talk on the field….

Club vs country
People who question my commitment should ask themselves what they've done for the society. I know I love my country and I play my best for it.