Kohli, Gambhir completed comprehensive win

The Delhi duo Virat Kohli and GautamGambhir guided India to a comprehensive 8 wicket victory against England in second ODI on Monday. As India will go 2-0 in the 5-match series.

England 237- all out 48.2 overs (K Pietersen- 46, V Kumar- 4/30)
India 238/2 36.4 overs (V Kohli 112*, G Gambhir- 84*, Bresnan 2/41)
Man of the Match – ViratKohli 112*

Indian started the run chase in a dramatic way as their openers Parthiv Patel (12) and AjinkyaRahane (14) felt cheaply, leaving India 29/2. The Delhi pair, Virat Kholi, who is in excellent form scored his seventh century and 2nd against England. Gambhir and Kohli put-on unbeaten 200plus run standfor third wicket. Virat Kohli made all the stroke play as Gambhir played a supporting role. Kohli completed 1000 runs in a Calendar year of 2011 behind J Trott (Eng) and S Watson (Aus).

Indian pacer Vinay Kumar took carrer best figures of 4/30 as he and Praveen troubled the English batmen early in the crease. Spinners kept the lid on scoring rate and Indians bowlers were not known for their pace might find the answers and U Yadav bowled with serious pace. He touched 147.0 kmph and bowling in constant 140’s. It seems India got all its winning formula overnight as they outplayed England in all the departments. And one might wonder to play like this compared in England summer.

England won the toss, decided to bat first, but English team has the worst possible start as both their openers Alastair Cook and Craig Kieswetter departed for golden ducks. J Trott has hit some fantastic strokes before perishing to Vinay out swinger. Kevin Pietersen (46) and Ravi Bopara (36)rescued the England innings for some extent but both settled batsmen got-out in back-to-back overs. After their pair Jonathan Bairstow (35) and Samit Patel (42) kept India waiting for the 6th wicket. Once the Indian bowlers got the break thorough and tail was exposed and perished cheaply.

India and England will be playing their 3rd ODI at Mohali on Oct 20, 2011.

Wasim Akram: Gambhir is a captaincy material

KKR bowling Coach Wasim Akram feels that Indian opening batsmen Gautam Gambhir is a captaincy material. Akram feels that Gambhir has leadership skills are at par with those of MS Dhoni and he will be future skipper of India. 

Wasim Akram hints Gambhir is future Indian skipper

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram, was impressed with the way Gambhir led Kolkata Knight Riders in the last season of IPL. Akram added that he has looked and worked with Gautam Gambhir as the bowling coach of Kolkata Knight Riders and I have no doubts in saying that Gambhir is a world class cricketer. He even quoted that Gambhir is a fighter and very committed individual, he is at par with Mahendra Singh Dhoni when it comes to leadership and man-management.

The left hand pacer, who captained Pakistan in 25 Tests and 109 ODIs, said Gambhir has almost recovered from his head injury that he sustained during India's disastrous tour of England and could soon be playing. Akram added that Gambhir is a strong boy but concussion after the head injury took a toll on him. Gambhir suffered a head injury during the Oval Test in London while trying to take a high catch off Kevin Pietersen's bat.

That injury sidelined Gambhir from the lone Twenty20 International and the ODI series against England. He also missed the two qualifying matches for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Champions League Twenty20. However, KKR has qualified for the Champions League Twenty20 main tournament for the first time even after losing their qualifying round match to Somerset.