The left-handed batsman, who was in Kolkata to shoot for a TV quiz show hosted by former India skipper Sourav Ganguly, said that he is looking forward to the England tour.
"Batting with Viru is always a treat. He plays his natural game and takes the pressure off his partner, allowing him to play naturally. He is like a stress buster. He has always helped me to score big runs, said the Delhi batsman who has 3,234 runs in 38 Tests at a healthy average of 51.33," he said.
The Indian team's vice-captain, who missed the West Indies tour because of a shoulder injury, said: "I am keeping myself ready for the tour. I am practising hard for the all important tour. Hopefully, I will be able to do well."
The 29-year-old player revealed that the 2008 ODI series in Australia was a turning point in his cricketing career. "Consecutive centuries in Brisbane and Sydney helped in boosting my confidence.
Those centuries were very important for my career. Even I feel that any player should be given enough chance to make a comeback," he said.
Gambhir missed a century by three runs in the World Cup final against Sri Lanka. " I never thought of it, but I became nervous once everybody started saying I was three runs short, something that cost me dear...," he said.
Gambhir, however, was happy to accomplish the job as India were reeling 31 for two when he came in at No. 3. " My job was to be there and play my natural game. So, I never had the time to think anything negative. I guess, that's what helped me score big run," he said.
Academy in Hyderabad
The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) is setting up an academy to hone the skills of young players. The academy will be based at the Gymkhana grounds in the city and former cricketer MV Sridhar will be its director while Venkatapathy Raju, Vijay Mohan Raj, Kanwaljeet Singh and Vivek Jaisimha would be the coaches, HCA president Arshad Ayub told reporters in Hyderabad on Saturday.
The academy aims at honing players' skills like fitness and skill development. " Players coming from districts, other than Hyderabad, will be housed in the academy and the HCA would also take care of the education of the inmates," Ayub said.
The players would be trained for two years initially and later their performance would be evaluated. The selection committee and coaches would select the trainees for the academy.
It will have 20 state- level players. The lower age- group players will initially be training at satellite academies and will be later promoted to the state-level, based on their performance.
"We want them to earn their places. It should not be given to them," Ayub said. "The satellite academies are also being set up and Sridhar is involved in its planning." On Hyderabad's dismal performance in Ranji Trophy last season - including getting all out for 21 against Rajasthan - Ayub expressed confidence that the team would be able to make a turnaround this year. He also announced selection committees/ coaches for 2011- 12.
Replying to a query, he said, Ambati Rayudu, who has shifted to Baroda from Hyderabad, did so out of his own choice and the HCA had no problem in having him back.
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