Is Gambhir peaking at the wrong time?

Gautam Gambhir finds himself now in a situation similar to that of many past, and current, stalwarts of Indian cricket.

At 24 years, it might be too early and pessimistic to say so, but the fact of the matter is Gambhir has become one of those prolific run scorers in first class cricket who are not quite close to reckoning for a Test or one-day spot.

It is a pity that the Delhi opener's string of good scores should come at a time when the Indian team is filled with some of the best batsmen the country had produced.

With 4623 runs including 16 centuries and as many half centuries for a remarkable average of 56.37 in 56 first class matches, Gambhir has the statistics to speak for him.

But will he ever get a look in, or go down in history as a talented player who did not play Test cricket?

"It is tough to say, whether I am peaking at the right time or wrong time. What is more important to keep making runs, and I have been doing that," Gambhir said.

Naturally, the stylish left hander does not want put additional pressure on himself by thinking about getting to play against Australia or South Africa in the coming days.

"I just want to keep playing well. Every season is important for a player, and playing for Delhi itself is big enough a motivation. As I said, I just want keep scoring those runs."

Despite those brave words, Gambhir could not hide the disappointment of being cast away by the selectors after a brief trial in the tri-series in Bangladesh last year.

Try and remind him that he scored a half century in four innings then, the response is a mix of dejection and despondency.

"Four innings," he shrugged his shoulders, with an emphasis on the first word.

As a batsman who has a terrific record in both forms of the game -- 2004 runs at 31.80 from 67 matches in the shorter version in the domestic -- Gambhir took exception to the comment that his style of play suited one-day cricket better.

"I have never heard any one telling me that I am a one-day player. All I can say is that there can be two kinds of batsmen, strokemakers and defensive players. And I belong to the first category."

He had a good tour with the 'A' team in Zimbabwe and Kenya where he scored two hundreds and as many half centuries. It remains to be seen if that will get him the breakthrough he is looking for.

It cannot be lost on Delhi fans that a Test spot could mean he will probably walk out with Aakash Chopra or Virender Sehwag, both his state-mates. Gambhir instinctively thought about the former, since it is with Chopra that he had come to form a strong opening pair in domestic cricket in recent times.

"Aakash and I combine well, but let us see. Hope we open for India too."