'No time to experiment'

Gambhir unwilling to take his foot off the pedal

“I haven’t thought about the next game yet,” remarked Gambhir, who won his second back-to-back man of the match award after scripting his second straight ton on Saturday. “I always feel that we must put our best team on the park in every game.

“Yes, if we feel the wicket demands that we need another batsman, then we will have an extra batsman in the side but putting the best team on the park is more important than giving opportunities to other players.”

Gambhir credited his bowlers for making the most of the helpful conditions in the morning. “We always knew that it does a bit because of the red soil and the early morning start.

“It was a good toss to win, but your bowlers needed to do the job up front and that’s what they did, containing New Zealand to 224. I am really happy with the way the entire team played,” he noted.

With the responsibility of leading the side, Gambhir has taken his batting to another level. “Captaincy doesn’t bat for you,” he maintained, while stressing that his new-found form had nothing to with him being named the captain of the side.

“You have to go there and do the batting yourself. As a player, I’ve given hundred percent, as a captain I’ve been giving hundred percent. I always felt that if I am in good form I will make it count, and that’s what I have done.

“Captaincy has not changed me as a player. I’m still the same player, that’s how I’ve played even under MS (Dhoni). I’m hitting the ball well, but it’s more to do as a player than as a captain. Captaincy need not motivate me, playing for the country itself is a big motivation,” he explained.

Zaheer Khan returned with a bang, claiming two wickets, and Gambhir showered copious praise on the paceman. “I think he’s the best left-arm fast bowler in the world today.
“Any captain would love to have him in the side, and the way he bowled today says a lot of things. It’s always great to have him back in the side,” said the Delhi left-hander, hitting his straps just ahead of the tour to South Africa.