‘I don’t carry my last innings to the crease’

“I’m much more comfortable. I’m more secure in the side which is very important for any cricketer,” Gambhir told reporters. “When you’re playing for your place in the side it is very tough,you don’t play your natural game. Once you feel like you belong it becomes much easier and you play your natural game and you enjoy yourself,which is very important because international cricket is all about pressure. If you can enjoy yourself in that pressure then it really helps,” he said.

It is not just the New Zealand attack the 27-year-old has taken a liking to. Since India’s home series against Australia last October,he has scored 1269 runs in eight Test matches at an average of 84.6,including a double century,four centuries and four half centuries.

He said the 206 he scored in the Test against Australia in Delhi last October had helped his mental preparations for each subsequent innings. “Since then I have not taken any innings casually because any innings I play for my country is very important and you just can’t take your place for granted,” Gambhir added.

“I always start on zero which is very important because I’m thinking that even if I scored a hundred in the last innings I’m not going to carry that into the next innings. I will again start from zero.”

Moles hoping for a draw

A victory is beyond them,but New Zealand coach Andy Moles is hopeful that his boys could still pull off a draw in the third and final Test against India at the Basin Reserve. “History will suggest that there are not too many sides who have come successful in this situation,” a candid Moles said after the third day’s play.

“One of the things that I have told the guys when I first started against the West Indies is that we have to recognise the time when you have got to learn how to draw a Test match. “This one is shaping into a battle to save the match. They are proud of their performance and they know that they haven’t played well in the first innings. This is an opportunity to go out there and score some big runs. So they are looking forward to the opportunity,” said Moles.

Commenting on McCullum’s stunning effort to catch out Dravid,Moles said,“It wasn’t planned. It was good improvisation by Brendon. I think he saw the shot two or three times before and he just went on gut instinct.It was quite a wonderful piece of judgment by him.”